Comparative Nutritional Profile of Publicly Procured Foods for School Meals in Federal Schools in Northeastern Brazil Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

School meals play a critical role in supporting students' biopsychosocial growth, development, learning, academic performance, and the establishment of healthy eating habits. In public institutions, food procurement is conducted through formal public procurement processes. However, emphasizing cost-effectiveness in bidding criteria, such as prioritizing the lowest product price, may inadvertently encourage the acquisition of foods high in critical nutrients. In Brazil, specific guidelines for public school food procurement have been introduced to improve the nutritional quality of foods included in school menus. Objective: To evaluate the impact of legislative measures and regulations implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional composition of school meals provided by federal high schools in Rio Grande do Norte, located in northeastern Brazil. It also compared the composition and origin of foods procured before and after the pandemic. Methods: This is a longitudinal observational panel study conducted across 20 federal schools. Procurement documents from 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2021 (post-pandemic) were analyzed to assess changes in the nutritional profile of procured foods. Results: Post-pandemic, the procurement of natural and minimally processed and processed foods increased, representing 73.39% and 10.34%, respectively, of the total approved foods. There was also a 39% reduction in ultra-processed foods compared to 2019, in addition to a reduction in culinary ingredients. Additionally, the proportion of foods containing excessive levels of critical nutrients declined. A significant shift was observed in the origin of procured foods, with a notable increase in the purchase of locally sourced items. Conclusions: The findings indicate a positive shift in the nutritional quality of foods procured after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decrease in ultra-processed food purchases and an increase in the procurement of natural and minimally processed options. Nonetheless, the continued presence of ultra-processed foods and items with excessive critical nutrients highlights the need for further improvements in public procurement practices to fully align with nutritional guidelines.