Nutritional profile of ultra-processed foods consumed by children in Rio de Janeiro

• Autor(a) principal: Anastácio, Carine de Oliveira Avelar
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Oliveira, Juliana Martins, Moraes, Milena Miranda de, Damião, Jorginete de Jesus, Castro, Inês Rugani Ribeiro de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Saúde Pública
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistas.usp.br/rsp/article/view/176876
• topic: Child; Food Consuption; Industrialized Foods; Food Labeling; Nutritional Value; Criança; Consumo de Alimentos; Alimentos Industrializados; Rotulagem de Alimentos; Valor Nutritivo

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the nutritional composition of ultra-processed foods consumed bychildren that attend basic health units.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a representative probabilistic sample of536 children aged between 6 and 59 months treated at a health unit in the city of Rio de Janeiro.Nutritional information was extracted from labels of the ultra-processed foods referred to in a24-hour recall. The 351 foods mentioned were divided into 22 groups and 38 subgroups accordingto the type of product, and they were characterized according to the averages of the values forenergy, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium in 100 grams of the product, in additionto presence, number, and type of “other sweeteners”. The nutritional Profile Model of the PanAmerican Health Organization was applied for each food and for the average of nutrient contentobtained for each group to examine the occurrence of critical nutrients excess.RESULTS: Ultra-processed foods contained high energy value and high levels of total fats,saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium. Out of the total of ultra-processed foods, 66% presentedexcess of at least one critical nutrient, with emphasis on requeijões and ultra-processed cheeses,instant noodles, and industrialized and sausage-like meats, which presented 100% of foods withexcess of total fats, saturated fats and sodium. Out of the 21 groups, the following exceeded thelimit established by the Pan American Health Organization: for total fats, 10 groups; for saturatedfats, 11; for trans fats, 3; and sodium, 13. Requeijões and ultra-processed cheeses; industrializedand sausage-like meats; and biscuits exceeded this limit in all parameters. Out of the set ofultra-processed foods analyzed, 13.4% contained “other sweeteners” (eight different types).CONCLUSIONS: The ultra-processed foods analyzed presented unbalanced nutritionalprofile, and two thirds presented excess of at least one critical nutrient. Educational actionsand regulatory measures are necessary to better inform the population and to discourage itsconsumption.