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

Authors

  • Carine de Oliveira Avelar Anastácio Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Nutrição. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5257-571X
  • Juliana Martins Oliveira Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Nutrição. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9556-767X
  • Milena Miranda de Moraes Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Nutrição. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2652-4051
  • Jorginete de Jesus Damião Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Nutrição. Departamento de Nutrição Social. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6591-3474
  • Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Nutrição. Departamento de Nutrição Social. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7479-4400

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001752

Keywords:

Child, Food Consuption, Industrialized Foods, Food Labeling, Nutritional Value

Abstract


OBJECTIVE: To analyze the nutritional composition of ultra-processed foods consumed by
children that attend basic health units.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a representative probabilistic sample of
536 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 a
24-hour recall. The 351 foods mentioned were divided into 22 groups and 38 subgroups according
to the type of product, and they were characterized according to the averages of the values for
energy, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats and sodium in 100 grams of the product, in addition
to presence, number, and type of “other sweeteners”. The nutritional Profile Model of the Pan
American Health Organization was applied for each food and for the average of nutrient content
obtained 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% presented
excess 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 with
excess of total fats, saturated fats and sodium. Out of the 21 groups, the following exceeded the
limit established by the Pan American Health Organization: for total fats, 10 groups; for saturated
fats, 11; for trans fats, 3; and sodium, 13. Requeijões and ultra-processed cheeses; industrialized
and sausage-like meats; and biscuits exceeded this limit in all parameters. Out of the set of
ultra-processed foods analyzed, 13.4% contained “other sweeteners” (eight different types).
CONCLUSIONS: The ultra-processed foods analyzed presented unbalanced nutritional
profile, and two thirds presented excess of at least one critical nutrient. Educational actions
and regulatory measures are necessary to better inform the population and to discourage its
consumption.

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Published

2020-09-04

Issue

Vol. 54 (2020)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Carine de Oliveira Avelar Anastácio, Juliana Martins Oliveira, Milena Miranda de Moraes, Jorginete de Jesus Damião, Inês Rugani Ribeiro de Castro

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Anastácio, C. de O. A. ., Oliveira, J. M., Moraes, M. M. de, Damião, J. de J., & Castro, I. R. R. de . (2020). Nutritional profile of ultra-processed foods consumed by children in Rio de Janeiro. Revista De Saúde Pública, 54, 89. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001752

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