The decentralization of both responsibilities and power for the cities to implement some of the policies that were exclusive responsibility of the federal government before shows that this process, even when bringing advances in what is related to the democratization, resulted in difficulties for local governments, especially when considering the complexities that are inherent to social policies. The formulation and implementation of programs of food and nutritional safety, a matter that has been increasingly emphasized in the realm of public policies, especially of city government, generates many challenges, forcing the governors to create specific articulations among government's sectors and parts, civil society and private sphere. The objective of the article is to contribute for the discussion about the importance of the construction of these arrangements from a case study carried out in the city of Belo Horizonte.
articulation; public policies; food safety