Abstract

MANRIQUE CHICA, Oscar  and  ROSIQUE GRACIA, Javier. FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD SAFETY IN HOUSEHOLDS OF DAY LABORERS IN CERTIFIED AND NON-CERTIFIED COFFEE FARMS AT THE SOUTHWEST OF ANTIOQUIA - COLOMBIA. Vitae [online]. 2014, vol.21, n.1, pp.20-29. ISSN 0121-4004.

Background: Few studies have been produced about quality and safety of foods in coffee areas from Antioquia, before and after the change in coffee production models by introducing certified coffees. However, these products are valuable for their positive impact on the economy, quality of life and food security on the sectors involved in production. Objectives: To determine the effect of certification on food security and safety in day laborers households at the Southwest of Antioquia. Methods: We selected 79 households of resident day laborers (41 from certified farms and 38 from non-certified) for comparative analysis. Samples of drinks (juice) in everyday use were collected for analysis by counting the most probable number (MPN) of total (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC), using the technique of Fluorocult LMX (Merck^®, USA). It was applied the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) and a survey to assess the availability and access to food, economy, education, housing quality and nutritional status by the Body Mass Index (BMI). After identifying the variables that best represented the components of household food security, we performed an analysis of MDS (Multidimensional Scaling) to find associations between food security components and ELCSA levels. Results: No significant differences were found in food security in the ELCSA, by type of farm. The certified farms had a tendency to be associated to low TC contamination, low incomes and higher food and housing costs. The MDS showed that acceptable quality in total coliform was more associated to certification than to other variables, and FC contamination to mild insecurity. Conclusions: The certification in coffee farms is not significantly associated with household food security of day laborers working in such sites. Meanwhile, CF contamination can be considered as an indicator of mild food insecurity.

Keywords : food safety; food security; colimetry; coffee production.

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