Vitória, 7/7/2004 (Agência Brasil) - "Eradicate hunger is not a promise. It is what the country wants and a challenge the government accepts," declared minister of Social Development and Hunger Combat, Patrus Ananias. The remark was made as he inaugurated a new project known as the "Brazilian Kitchen - Eating Intelligently" (Cozinha Brasil - Alimentação Inteligente) which will teach poor people to get more benefits - and nutrition - from the food they use. The project will send mobile units equipped with kitchens and kitchen utensils, and seating space for 30 student-cooks, out to poor communities.

According to the minister, 30% of the food Brazilians use winds up in the garbage. The objective of Brazilian Kitchen is to cut the waste by teaching people how to use food parts they usually throw away - such as skin and seeds. The program will train people and then provide incentives for them to network.

Among other things, quiche made from pumpkin skin, banana skin cake and casava juice will be on the menu as the mobile units moves around from community to community showing people how to get a healthy meal at low cost. The idea is for poor people to cook safely, economically and have the maximum nutrition.

The project goal is to put 100,000 people through kitchen-classrooms around the country. A pilot project begins in Espírito Santo this week and will be extended to Minas Gerais, Piauí, Pernambuco and São Paulo by the end of August. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Social Development and Hunger Combat, along with the National Industrial Social Service Council (Sesi) and the National Industrial Confederation (CNI).

Repórter:Keite Camacho
(Translator:Allen Bennett)