Food production and food consumption have been shown to have a great impact on our ecosystem. Human beings have been exploiting the planet in order to feed themselves. This will have negative consequences for future life on the planet. Modern food production and consumption are among the main causes of natural resource exploitation and the problem is very likely to increase. Indeed, during the past thirty years, the global population has grown exponentially by almost one billion every decade, and it is still growing at the same pace. This demographic explosion means that dramatic shifts in the production and consumption of food will be required. Working with food is a great chance to achieve or at least lead towards a condition of recovering, understanding the world around us and managing our natural resourcesÅ. Increasing control and efficiency in food production and consumption cannot solve the problem. There is a much broader spectrum of causes contributing to the ecological decline. It is necessary to look beyond the technological and economic aspects. It is, therefore, necessary to focus on cultural and behavioural causes, promoting the involvement of local peopleÇ. With this in mind, this research explores the potential of urban foraging for generating social consciousness about ecological sustainability using design as method of intervention, and involving food consumers in the process of production and consumption of food in a more sustainable way. In order to do that, this research focuses on a small scale urban foraging project. In this case, by food, I refer to spontaneous food that grow in the natural urban environment of Växjö, and that can be used as a resource for citizens. In summary, this research aims to promote the involvement of local people and to support knowledge exchange in order to pursue socio-ecological sustainability. Engaging with more participants, the research gains the capacity of addressing complexity in a more coherent manner, and use its outcome as a usable resource for the local community that aims to promote its self-sustenance.

Das derzeitige Lebensmittelsystem gilt als einer der Hauptverursacher zahlreicher globaler Probleme wie dem Klimawandel und dem Rückgang der Biodiversität. Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE), die eine nachhaltige Ernährung bei jungen Menschen fördert, kann wesentlich zur Überwindung dieser Probleme beitragen. Zudem stellt das Thema einer nachhaltige Ernährung einen in höchster Form geeigneten Beispielkontext für BNE dar, weil es so gut wie kaum ein anderes Thema die ökologische, soziale und ökonomische Dimension einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung in einem regional-globalen Bezugsrahmen vereint. Für die Entwicklung geeigneter Lehr-Lernarrangements sollten jedoch die Lernvoraussetzung bezüglich einer Bildung für nachhaltigen Ernährung berücksichtigt werden, welche sowohl die Präkonzepte zum Unterrichtsgegenstand als auch psychologische Faktoren umfassen, die nachhaltige Ernährungsabsichten und Ernährungsverhaltensweisen fördern. Aufgrund ihrer besonderen Bedeutung für die Ausführung umweltfreundlicher Verhaltensweisen, wie eine nachhaltige Ernährung, untersuchte die erste Studie die Mensch-Natur-Beziehung von 2173 deutschen (MAlter = 14,56 Jahre, SD = 1,45; weiblich: 55,1%) und 451 ecuadorianischen (MAlter = 14,63 Jahre, SD = 1,77; weiblich: 55,3%) Schüler*innen der Sekundarstufe. Im Speziellen wurde die Rolle ausgesuchter grundlegender menschlicher Werte, des Geschlechts und der in der Natur verbrachten Zeit für die Entwicklung von Naturverbundenheit und Umweltbetroffenheit in den zwei Kulturen beleuchtet. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die ecuadorianischen Schüler*innen naturverbundener als Schüler*innen in Deutschland waren. Darüber hinaus wurden kulturspezifische Unterschiede hinsichtlich der dimensionalen Struktur von Umweltbetroffenheit sowie der Rolle des Geschlechts für die Entwicklung von Naturverbundenheit und biospherisch motivierte Umweltbetroffenheit ermittelt. Die Wertedimension Selbst-Überwindung sowie die in der Natur verbrachte Zeit stellten in beiden Kulturen Determinanten für Naturverbundenheit und biospherisch motivierte Umweltbetroffenheit dar. Mit Blick auf die unterrichtliche Praxis sprechen die Befunde der Studie dafür, dass die Wertedimension Selbst-Überwindung und Zeit in der Natur gefördert werden sollten, um die Mensch-Natur-Beziehung bei Schüler*innen sowohl in Ecuador als auch in Deutschland zu stärken. Die zweite Studie verfolgte das Ziel, Faktoren zu identifizieren, die nachhaltige Ernährungsabsichten und -verhalten bei Jugendlichen vorhersagen. Zu diesem Zweck wurden in einer zweiten quantitativen Studie 624 deutsche Schüler*innen der Sekundarstufe (MAlter = 16,63 Jahre; SD = 1,15; weiblich: 48,2%) hinsichtlich ihrer Intention, sich nachhaltig zu ernähren, zu ihren Ernährungsgewohnheiten (vegetarisch/vegan oder omnivor) und zu mehreren Faktoren befragt, die in früheren Studien im Zusammenhang mit umweltfreundlichen Verhaltensweisen standen. Die Studie identifizierte die wahrgenommene Konsument*inneneffektivität, biospherisch motivierte Umweltbetroffenheit sowie Wissen über nachhaltige Ernährung als Determinanten für die Intention sich nachhaltige zu ernähren und für die Ausführung einer vegetarischen Ernährungsweise, welche ein partielles Beispiel einer nachhaltigen Ernährung darstellt. Während Naturverbundenheit lediglich für die Erklärung von der Intention sich nachhaltige zu ernähren relevant war, sagte die dispositionelle Empathie gegenüber Tieren nur Vegetarismus vorher. Damit gibt die Studie wichtige Hinweise darauf, welche Faktoren bei der Entwicklung didaktischer Konzepte zur Förderung nachhaltiger Ernährungsweisen berücksichtigt werden sollten. Mittels semistrukturierten Einzelinterviews wurden in der dritten Studie die Vorstellungen von 46 deutsche Schüler*innen Sekundarstufe (MAlter = 15,59, SD = 0,78; weiblich = 47,8%;) bezüglich einer nachhaltigen Ernährung erhoben. Dabei wurde ermittelt, wie präsent die Dimensionen einer nachhaltigen Ernährung (Gesundheit, Umwelt, Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Kultur) in den Vorstellungen der Schüler*innen sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass die Schüler*innenvorstellungen bezüglich einer nachhaltigen Ernährung von der gesundheitlichen Dimension dominiert wurden. Je mehr Dimensionen die Schüler*innen jedoch in Ihren Vorstellungen berücksichtigten, desto weniger wurde die gesundheitliche Dimension fokussiert und desto stärker war die Dimension Umwelt in den Vorstellungen vertreten. Die Dimensionen Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und besonders Kultur fanden insgesamt wenig Berücksichtigung in den Vorstellungen der Schüler*innen. Darüber hinaus verfügten einige Schüler*innen über alternative Vorstellungen bezüglich des Ausdrucks einer nachhaltigen Ernährung und konnten keine Beziehung zwischen einer nachhaltigen Ernährung und den Dimensionen Umwelt, Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Kultur herstellen, was auf eine vorherrschend egozentrische Sichtwiese auf Ernährung hindeutet, die die Grenzen des eigenen Körpers nicht überschritt. Da die Vorstellungen von Schüler*innen bezüglich einer nachhaltigen Ernährung, aber auch psychologische Faktoren, welche eine nachhaltige Ernährung begünstigen, wichtige Lernvoraussetzungen für eine Bildung für nachhaltige Ernährung darstellen, bilden die Ergebnisse die Grundlage für die erfolgreiche Entwicklung von Lehr-Lernarrangements zu dieser Thematik. Vorschläge zur Integration der Ergebnisse in die unterrichtliche Praxis werden gegeben.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics )) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Regardless of the strategies adopted globally and nationwide to fight food insecurity within communities, particularly in the rural context, poverty becomes a major constituent which translates to most rural households experiencing food insecurity shocks. Given the high unemployment rate in South Africa which triggers several household’s vulnerability to food insecurity, the country has diverse natural resources which include indigenous plants such as Indigenous Leafy Vegetables (ILVs), which can be used as food and for business purposes by its residents. Irrespective of the diversity of ILVs in South Africa, there is a significant decline in the production and consumption of ILVs particularly in rural areas where these vegetables are mostly available. In addition, production and consumption of ILVs may not only address food insecurity but these vegetables may benefit households through the income obtained from their sales. The income generated from sales of ILVs may therefore assist towards improving and sustaining rural livelihood needs. Given this background information, the study aimed at assessing ILV production for income generation and food security among rural households in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) of South Africa. The study was conducted within the three district municipalities of the ECP which were selected because statistics report these districts to be the most affected areas by poverty within the province. These districts are OR Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM), Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) and Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JGDM). Multistage and proportional random sampling procedures were employed to select households which could participate in the study. Thus, 407 households within these three (3) districts municipalities were used for the purposes of the study. The study also included interviewing role players within the ILV production value chain, thus a snowball sampling procedure was used to select role players. Sixteen hawkers and three input suppliers were interviewed from the three district municipalities. In addition, from the 407 households that were interviewed, 260 households from the three district municipalities reported to be producers of ILVs. A structured questionnaire was therefore used to collect pertaining data allied in achieving the aim of the study. The collected data was captured using Excel 2016, after data cleaning, it was then exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. Numerous analytical models were used from SPSS 25. For instance, to identify and describe socio-economic characteristics of households, to assess the most produced ILVs from the study areas and to identify role players within the ILV production value chain, descriptive statistics in a form of means, percentages, frequencies, and standard deviation was used. To determine factors which influence production of ILVs, a Binary Logistic Regression Model was used. A Multinomial Logistic Regression model was used to determine factors which influence different uses of ILVs by households and to determine factors influencing food security status among households. A gross margin analysis was used to estimate viability from each ILV produced, harvested and sold, while Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure food security status among households. Lastly, a correlation matrix was also used to determine the relationship between the role players and their functions among the ILV production value chain. Based on the results, the study therefore concluded that, from the three district municipalities used in the study, there are various ILVs growing naturally and produced. The production of ILVs from these municipalities is habituated by socio economic characteristics of households, wherein households use ILVs for various purposes which include these vegetables as source of food, medicine and livestock feed. The use of ILVs among households is influenced by socio-economic characteristics and seasonal availability of ILVs in ORTDM, while in ANDM and JGDM, the use of ILVs by households is conditioned by socio-economic characteristics of households, knowledge/ awareness related to nutrition and health benefits of ILVs and seasonal production of ILVs. Furthermore, this research concludes that, ILVs have a potential of diversifying diets and addressing food insecurity problems within rural parts of the three districts. Given the positive gross margins from the three districts, production and selling of ILVs has a potential to contribute to rural household income. Lastly, the study concludes that, the ILV production value chain system lacks governmental support in the form of institutional engagement since there is no evidence of extension officer support from these three district municipalities concerning ILVs production. To this end, the study recommends that, policy makers should further establish inclusion of ILVs in both farming and food systems. Also, government and related institutions which focus on sustainable rural development must intervene in promoting production of ILVs particularly within rural contexts since production of these vegetables may alleviate poverty through job creation, addressing food insecurity and income generation. Thus, a successful intervention of government and policy makers in ILV production would have a potential of translating to sustainable rural livelihoods / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Purpose of this study is to holistically analyze existing linkages between Aruba’s tourism industry, restaurants and local farmers, by examining strategies that constrain the development of linkages between these stakeholders. Previous research indicated that tourism development is often accompanied with increased demand for imported food, which results in foreign exchange leakages, inflation and competition with local production. This phenomenon is very common in the Caribbean, where Aruba, with its heavy reliance on imported goods and services, is no exception to this occurrence. To comprehend potential problems associated with linking both sectors, these in-depth case study addresses three fundamental questions: a) what is the structure of supply and demand of food for the tourism industry of Aruba?, and b) what factors constrain the development of linkages between international tourism and Aruba’s local agriculture? Using an exploratory and stochastic methodological approach, data will be obtained from structured surveys from three different stakeholders in the food supply chain of Aruba. Anticipated findings illustrate that the existing linkage between the tourism industry and agriculture in Aruba is still weak, yet the food consumption and preferences by tourists can contribute in enhancing an ecogastronomic tourism supply chain.

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Den konventionella maten har stor påverkan på miljön, vilket har medfört att allt fler konsumenter väljer ekologisk mat. Detta är ett noggrant undersökt fält. Kunskap saknas dock om pensionärer väljer ekologiska matvaror. Föreliggande studies syfte har varit att undersöka svenska pensionärers konsumtion av ekologiska matvaror, något som undersökts genom metodtriangulering av enkäter och semistrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer. Resultatet tyder på att pensionärer konsumerar ekologisk mat av samma anledningar och hindras av samma orsaker som yngre konsumenter. Enda skillnaderna som uppvisats jämtemot yngre konsumenter är att pensionärers ekologiska konsumtion sker oberoende av könstillhörighet och familjestruktur. / Conventional food has a major environmental impact, which has caused more and more consumers to choose organic food. This is a thoroughly researched field. However, there is insufficient knowledge regarding whether senior citizens choose to buy organic food or not. The aim of the present study has been to examine the consumption of organic food among senior Swedish citizens. The study was conducted through surveys and semi-structured qualitative interviews. The results suggest that senior consumers have the same motives as younger consumers. They are also hindered by the same reasons as their younger counterparts. The only difference between the two groups is that senior citizen´s gender and family structure influence their organic food consumption less.

Sustainability labels play an important role as information providers in the food sector. They serve consumers with information regarding a product’s sustainability performance and shows whether the product is compliant with certain rules and regulations. Consumers of today do however find it difficult to orient among the multitude of label alternatives and there are difficulties knowing exactly what the labels stand for. Additionally, the complex concept of sustainability is not fully portrayed through existing labels, as they communicate a one-dimensional viewpoint and lack transparency regarding its sustainability assessment criteria of the product. This lack of transparency creates information asymmetry between consumers and producers, which in turn prevents consumers from making an informed choice. To decrease the prevailing information asymmetry, multidimensional sustainability labels can be an alternative. This since they communicate multiple dimensions of sustainability in a simplified and objective manner. The main aim of the study is to examine whether different consumer attributes correlate with the perception of a multidimensional label. Further, the study aims to evaluate a multidimensional label’s potential to decrease the information asymmetry within the food sector. This was investigated through an online survey with 879 respondents. The results showed that (i) the only customer attribute that correlates with the perception of a multidimensional label is the respondent’s sustainability profile, (ii) the multidimensional label is considered necessary and complementary to existing labels as it clarifies a product’s sustainability performance, and (iii) further research is needed, e.g. regarding what design is easiest to comprehend, to successfully introduce it to the food sector. / Hållbarhetsmärkningar utgör en viktig roll som informationsspridare inom livsmedelsindustrin. De förser konsumenter med information angående hur hållbar en produkt är samt visar huruvida produkten lever upp till vissa regler och förordningar. Dagens konsumenter upplever dock att det är svårt att orientera sig bland alla hållbarhetsmärkningar och att det är svårt att veta vad respektive märkning står för. Dessutom skildrar befintliga hållbarhetsmärkningar inte det komplexa begreppet hållbarhet på ett tillfredsställande sätt, då de kommunicerar en endimensionell bild där märkningens bedömningskriterier inte beskrivs. Denna avsaknad av transparens skapar informationsasymmetri mellan konsumenter och producenter, vilket i sin tur begränsar konsumenternas förmåga att göra ett informerat val. För att minska den rådande informationsasymmetrin kan multidimensionella hållbarhetsmärkningar vara ett alternativ. Detta då de kommunicerar flera dimensioner av hållbarhet på ett förenklat och objektivt sätt. Det huvudsakliga syftet för denna studie är att undersöka huruvida olika konsumenters egenskaper korrelerar med uppfattningen av en flerdimensionell hållbarhetsmärkning. Studien syftar även till att undersöka den flerdimensionella hållbarhetsmärkningens potential att bidra till en minskad informationsasymmetri inom livsmedelsindustrin. Detta undersöktes med hjälp av en nätbaserad enkät med 879 respondenter. Studiens resultat visade att (i) en konsuments hållbarhetsprofil påverkar uppfattningen av en flerdimensionell hållbarhetsmärkning, (ii) den flerdimensionella hållbarhetsmärkningen anses nödvändig och kompletterande till befintliga hållbarhetsmärkningar då den förtydligar hur hållbar en produkt är samt (iii) att vidare studier är nödvändiga för att framgångsrikt introducera hållbarhetsmärkningen till livsmedelsindustrin, exempelvis angående vilken design som är enklast att förstå.

Global food production places significant demands on the environment, contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. The transition to sustainable production and consumption systems is therefore critical in meeting the food demands of growing populations while preserving the ecosystem. Supermarkets, as intermediaries between suppliers and consumers, play an important role in promoting sustainable consumption. However, their profit-driven nature has frequently stifled genuine change. The use of tools, such as life cycle assessment (LCA) has recently boomed in the food industry to help combat negative effects of food production. However, the complexity and variability of food production, as well as the tools’ technopolitical considerations, complicate their application to the food value chain, requiring a critical approach. The thesis explored the intersection of these two topics, specifically the sustainability initiatives of Swedish supermarkets and the role of the life cycle perspective in them. The study found that the life cycle perspective does not currently play a significant role in Swedish supermarkets’ sustainability initiatives, with applications primarily limited to generic carbon footprint data. Furthermore, supermarkets were found to promote a weak model of sustainable consumption, with their transformative potential limited by consumer demand and the desire for profit. Nonetheless, the findings revealed a shift in retailer attitudes relative to previous research, with greater recognition of their responsibility and sustainability initiatives in procurement. While more comprehensive and drastic approaches are required for the long-term transformation of the food value chain, shared initiatives and increased standardisation show promise in bringing actors together to achieve this goal. / Den globala livsmedelsproduktionen ställer stora krav på miljön och bidrar till klimatförändringar och miljöförstöring. Övergången till hållbara produktions- och konsumtionssystem är därför avgörande för att möta den växande befolkningens efterfrågan på livsmedel samtidigt som ekosystemet bevaras. Stormarknader, som mellanhänder mellan leverantörer och konsumenter, spelar en viktig roll för att främja hållbar konsumtion. Deras vinstdrivande natur har dock ofta hämmat verklig förändring. Användningen av verktyg som livscykelanalys (LCA) har på senare tid ökat kraftigt inom livsmedelsindustrin för att bekämpa negativa effekter av livsmedelsproduktionen. Men livsmedelsproduktionens komplexitet och variabilitet, liksom verktygens teknopolitiska överväganden, komplicerar deras tillämpning på livsmedelsvärdekedjan och kräver ett kritiskt förhållningssätt. Avhandlingen undersökte skärningspunkten mellan dessa två ämnen, särskilt svenska stormarknaders hållbarhetsinitiativ och livscykelperspektivets roll i dem. Studien visade att livscykelperspektivet för närvarande inte spelar någon betydande roll i svenska stormarknaders hållbarhetsinitiativ, med tillämpningar som främst är begränsade till generiska koldioxidavtrycksdata. Dessutom visade det sig att stormarknaderna främjar en svag modell för hållbar konsumtion, där deras omvandlingspotential begränsas av konsumenternas efterfrågan och önskan om vinst. Resultaten visade dock på en förändring i återförsäljarnas attityder i förhållande till tidigare forskning, med ett större erkännande av deras ansvar och hållbarhetsinitiativ inom upphandling. Även om det krävs mer omfattande och drastiska tillvägagångssätt för en långsiktig omvandling av livsmedelsvärdekedjan, är gemensamma initiativ och ökad standardisering lovande när det gäller att föra samman aktörer för att uppnå detta mål.

La transition nutritionnelle et l’insécurité alimentaire sont parmi les facteurs externes majeurs diminuant la qualité de l’alimentation. Les effets du déclin de celle-ci se résument par l’augmentation de la prévalence des maladies chroniques et des carences nutritionnelles. Afin de combattre ces problèmes, plusieurs études ont trouvé que la qualité de l’alimentation a été améliorée par l’autoproduction d’aliments (autorécolte*). Cette étude vise à identifier si un lien existe entre la qualité de l’alimentation et l’autorécolte d’aliments végétaux dans le contexte rural libanais, à partir de 748 748 répondants en provenance des régions du Chouf, Hermel et Aarsal. Afin de décrire l’alimentation selon le statut de récolte en ajustant pour différentes variables confondantes, des tests de χ2, d’ANOVA et des comparaisons multiples (Bonferroni) ont été effectués. Une interaction significative a été trouvée entre les deux types de récolte à tous les niveaux montrant que les collecteurs de plantes/fruits sauvages avaient tendance à produire domestiquement des fruits/légumes et vice versa. Le statut d’autorécolte d’aliments-sauvages avait une association positive et significative avec la variété et la fréquence de consommation à l’exception de celle des fruits et l’autorécolte domestique avait une association significativement positive avec la variété de consommation de légumes et la fréquence de consommation de fruits et légumes. Une forte association a été trouvée entre la région de résidence et les tendances de consommation de fruits/légumes. En outre, l’association entre l’autorécolte domestique et la fréquence de consommation des fruits et légumes s’est avérée positive dans la région où leur fréquence de consommation est la moins élevée (Hermel). Cette étude démontre que l'autorécolte des aliments végétaux, qu'ils soient produits dans un jardin-maison ou récoltés dans la nature, est significativement associée à une plus grande variété (diversité) et fréquence de leur consommation et que ces associations sont généralement liées à l'intensité de la récolte. Mots-clés: Transition nutritionnelle, insécurité alimentaire, autorécolte, autoproduction de fruits et légumes, collecte de plantes sauvages, variété, fréquence de la consommation alimentaire. *Dans ce document, le terme autorécolte d’aliments est utilisé pour inclure l’autoproduction et l’autocueillette d’aliments sauvages et le terme « aliments » reflète les groupes suivant : les fruits, légumes, plantes sauvages et fruits sauvages. / The nutrition transition and food insecurity are among the major external factors diminishing diet quality. The effects of diet quality decline can be summarized by the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and nutritional deficiencies. To combat these problems, several studies have found that diet quality has been improved by self-production of food (self-harvest*). This study aims to identify whether a link exists between diet quality and self-harvest of plant-food in the Lebanese rural context using data from 748 adult participants living in Chouf, Hermel and Aarsal. To describe dietary patterns of the study population according to the harveststatus, χ2, ANOVA and multiple comparisons (Bonferroni) were used while adjusting for various confounding variables. A significant interaction was found between the two types of harvest at all levels showing that collectors of wild plants/fruits tended to also have some domestic production of fruits and vegetables, and vice versa. While wild-food harvest had a significant positive association with the variety and frequency of consumption except for fruit consumption frequency, domestic harvest had a significantly positive association with vegetable consumption variety and fruit and vegetable consumption frequency. A strong association was found between the region of residence and fruit/vegetable consumption trends. Moreover, the association between domestic harvest and fruit/vegetable consumption frequency was only positive in the region where the consumption frequency was lowest (Hermel). This study demonstrates that self-harvesting of plant foods, whether produced in a home garden or collected from the wild, is significantly associated with greater consumption variety (diversity) and frequency of these foods and that these associations are generally related to the intensity of harvesting. Keywords: Nutrition transition, food insecurity, self-harvest of food, self-production of fruits and vegetables, wild plant harvest, food consumption variety, food consumption frequency. * In this document, the term self- harvest used to include the self-production of food and wild food collection. The term "food" reflects the following groups: fruits, vegetables, wild plants and wild fruits.

Os guias alimentares orientam o público quanto às práticas alimentares saudáveis. As indústrias de alimentos têm desenvolvido produtos com redução de gorduras (PRG) para atender a demanda que encontra dificuldade em seguir as orientações propostas. Este trabalho objetivou caracterizar o padrão alimentar dos domicílios consumidores de PRG. A população foi composta por 2337 domicílios que participaram da POF/FIPE/USP 1998-1999, que estudou uma amostra probabilística da área metropolitana de São Paulo. Foram considerados domicílios consumidores de PRG aqueles que apresentaram consumo de produtos desnatado, semi-desnatado e light com redução de gordura (n=445 19,1%). Foi investigado o perfil demográfico, socioeconômico e de escolaridade. O consumo alimentar domiciliar foi obtido pela média per capita/dia da unidade domiciliar, ajustada para gênero e idade, para 14 grupos de alimentos. A Análise de Componentes Principais foi utilizada para a obtenção do padrão alimentar, a Regressão Logística Múltipla e a Análise Discriminante foram utilizadas para identificar as diferenças entre os grupos. Os domicílios consumidores de PRG apresentaram escolaridade, renda familiar, idade dos integrantes da família, disponibilidade de frutas, hortaliças, produtos industrializados, lipídios de adição e açúcares superiores aos não consumidores. O padrão alimentar dos domicílios consumidores de PRG se caracterizou como \"tradicional\" e entre os não consumidores se caracterizou como \"misto\". Os resultados sugerem que os domicílios consumidores de PRG não apresentam estrutura de alimentar homogênea e o padrão alimentar adotado pode não atender as recomendações nutricionais. / The Food Guides orientate the public to healthy practices concerning food. The food industry has developed low-fat products to attend the demand from those who have difficulties to follow the proposed instructions. This work focused on describing the food standard at low-fat consumers\' domiciles. The .population was composed by 2,337 domiciles, which participated in a research - realized by POF/FIPE/USP in 1998-1999 - about a probabilistic sample from a metropolitan area in São Paulo. We considered low-fat consumers\' domiciles; those who presented skim, semi-skim and Light products consumption (#445 19.1 %). Herein, the demographical, socioecohomical and scholarity level profiles, were also investigated. The housing food consumption was obtained by the per capita/day average at the unity of domicile, tailored to gender and age, for 14 aliments groups. The Principal Components Analyze was used to obtain the food standard as the Multiple Logistical Regression and Discriminat Analyse were used to identify the differences among the groups. The housing low-fat consumers presented scholarity level, the revenue, age of the family members, availability of fruit and greens, industrial products, addition of lipids and sugars higher than those who were not consumers. The food standard at the low-fat consumers was characterized as \"traditional\" and among those who were nor consumers it was characterized as \"mix\". The results suggest that the low-fat consumers have not presented a homogeneous food structure and the food standard adopted by then may not consider nutritional recommendations.