How it works
Categoriza Brasil is a food safety inspection strategy based on successful experiences in Brazil during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and in cities such as Los Angeles, New York and London. It also builds on the pioneering work of the municipality of Santa Maria, in Rio Grande do Sul.
It grades food services with an evaluation instrument that prioritizes the Good Handling Practices with the greatest impact on health.
The grade is available to consumers, who can then use food safety as a criterion for choosing where to eat.
The goal of Categorization is to improve the food safety profile of establishments, raising public awareness and holding the regulated sector accountable for complying with the rules set by health surveillance.
The 10 implementation steps
From the first meeting with the city hall to the seals on the establishments' doors.
1Presentation of Categorization to the city halls
2Planning the actions with the health authorities
3Awareness sessions for food services
4Training for food services
5Food service self-assessment
6Adjustment period after the self-assessment
71st inspection cycle with Health Surveillance
8Adjustment period after the 1st inspection cycle
92nd inspection cycle with Health Surveillance
10Release of the Categorization seals
Learn more
Risk-focused inspections
The municipal health surveillance team evaluates the Good Practices items with the greatest impact on consumer health.
Self-assessment
Establishments can assess themselves with the same instrument health surveillance uses.
Faster inspections
A full report right after the inspection, with the risk score and the seal calculated on the spot.
Find graded places
Open the map and support the places that care about food safety. Encourage your municipality to take part.
Which one are you?
Choose your profile and see what to do in your municipality.
See the graded food services of your municipality on the map. Open the map
Check the list of participating municipalities on the map page. See the participating municipalities
Fill in the interest form and our team will get in touch. How to join
See the graded food services of your municipality on the map. Open the map
Check the list of participating municipalities on the map page. See the participating municipalities
Contact the Health Surveillance office of your municipality and introduce Categoriza Brasil. See the participating municipalities
How consulting and advisory firms take part
- They benefit from Categoriza Brasil, because a lot of work comes up in the municipalities that join
- They can provide training and advice on the adjustments establishments need
- They help prepare documentation (Good Practices Manual and SOPs), records, spreadsheets and educational posters
- They take part in organizing events, workshops and seal award ceremonies, among others
- Spreading information: sharing guidance on Categorization
See the graded food services of your municipality on the map. Open the map
Check the list of participating municipalities on the map page. See the participating municipalities
Contact the Health Surveillance office of your municipality and introduce Categoriza Brasil. See the participating municipalities
The role of universities and other higher education institutions
- Training for Health Surveillance staff, food service managers and food handlers
- Organizing events, workshops and seal award ceremonies, among others
- Joining inspections and helping the health authorities record the evaluations
- Space, facilities, staff and technology for meetings and events
- Research such as microbiological analyses, time and temperature control, surveys with managers and consumers and frying oil quality
- Helping establishments make adjustments, such as preparing documentation (Good Practices Manual and SOPs), records and educational posters
- Spreading information: sharing guidance on Categorization
Check the list of participating municipalities on the map page. See the participating municipalities
Contact the Health Surveillance office of your municipality and introduce Categoriza Brasil. See the participating municipalities
See the graded food services of your municipality on the map. Open the map
Check the list of participating municipalities on the map page. See the participating municipalities
Contact the Health Surveillance office of your municipality and introduce Categoriza Brasil. See the participating municipalities
The role of organizations and associations
- Mobilization and awareness: promoting the initiative and encouraging food services and other local players to take part
- Institutional coordination: bringing together government, businesses, educational institutions and civil society
- Spreading information: sharing guidance on Categorization
Eating out? Ordering delivery? Check whether the place has an ABC seal.
Search for restaurants, bars and snack bars inspected by health surveillance that stand out. Find who has already been graded.
Open the mapEating out? Ordering delivery? Check whether the place has an ABC seal.
Search for restaurants, bars and snack bars inspected by health surveillance that stand out. Find who has already been graded.
Open the mapContact the Health Surveillance office of your municipality and introduce Categoriza Brasil. See the participating municipalities
Preparation and storage make up 64% of the score.
Of the 336 possible risk points, 215 concern how food is prepared and stored: temperature, thawing, cooking, labeling and expiry dates.
Weights used by the Categoriza assessment platform. Items 1 to 3 are eliminatory and items 50 and 51 are classificatory: they add no points, but a failure leaves the place Pending.
- Food preparation135
- Storage and display80
- Raw materials40
- Cleaning and sanitizing39
- Food handlers15
- Facilities14
- Pest control8
- Water supply5
The 51 items. Try a preview.
Establishments can assess themselves with the same tool health surveillance uses. Tick what would be inadequate today and see the resulting letter.
Inspection risk scale
Pending: Unacceptable sanitary quality: the place gets no seal and health surveillance takes enforcement measures, which may include closing it down. A failure in drinking water, running water or sewage leads straight to Pending, whatever the total.