EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ASPECTS OF THE MEAL QUALITY INDEX BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS CONSIDERING ANIMAL PROTEIN CONSUMPTION

• Grant number: 24/18218-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutritional Analysis of Population
• Principal Investigator: Josiane Steluti
• Grantee: Luana Soares de Oliveira Pereira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The high consumption of meat, especially red meat, has significant implications for environmental sustainability, placing a heavy burden on natural resources such as soil, water, and the atmosphere. To promote a sustainable diet, it is essential to consider not only nutritional aspects but also resource use efficiency and the emissions associated with food production. Reducing meat consumption can help decrease the environmental footprint and promote a more balanced and sustainable diet. Monitoring population diets is important for this purpose. Many technological advances have emerged in this field of dietary assessment. In this regard, the ClicPrato project aims to evaluate meal quality through photographic records captured with cell phones. The meal images are analyzed using the Meal Quality Index from Photos (IQR-photo), which considers both nutritional quality and environmental sustainability aspects.Objectives: To evaluate the environmental sustainability aspect of the meal quality index based on photographic records (IQR-photo) considering animal protein consumption.Methods: The study considers secondary data from the ClicPrato project. Initially, animal protein food groups will be identified in the 3400 meal photos, considering the following meal types: no meat, beef, pork, poultry, eggs, processed meats, cheese/milk, fish/seafood, and undefined meat. Subsequently, the quantification of environmental impact indicators for the animal protein groups will be carried out using databases from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).Form and analysis of results: It is expected to identify the magnitude of differences in environmental impacts according to the animal protein food group, which will allow for a revision of the environmental sustainability aspect of the IQR-photo, adequately weighing the animal protein component.