ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the trend of household food acquisition according to the NOVA classification in Brazil between 1987–1988 and 2017–2018.

METHODS

We used household food acquisition data from five editions of the Pesquisas de Orçamentos Familiares (Household Budget Surveys), conducted by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), in the years 1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2002–2003, 2008–2009, and 2017–2018. All reported foods were categorized according to the NOVA classification. The household availability of food groups and subgroups was expressed through their share (%) in total calories, for all Brazilian families, by household situation (urban or rural), for each of the five geographic regions of the country, by fifths of the household income per capita distribution (2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 surveys), and for the 11 main urban regions of the country (1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 surveys). Linear regression models were used to assess the trend of increasing or decreasing food purchases.

RESULTS

The diet of the Brazilian population is still composed predominantly of foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients. However, our findings point to trends of increasing share of ultra-processed foods in the diet. This increase of 0.4 percentage points per year between 2002 and 2009 slowed down to 0.2 percentage points between 2008 and 2018. The consumption of ultra-processed food was higher among households with higher income, in the South and Southeast regions, in urban areas, and in metropolitan regions.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate an increase in the share of ultra-processed foods in the diet of Brazilians. This is a worrisome scenario, since the consumption of such foods is associated with the development of diseases and the loss of nutritional quality of the diet.

Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Staple Food; Industrialized Foods; Socioeconomic Factors; Food Economics

INTRODUCTION

Several international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) advocate that healthy and sustainable eating patterns are those based on a wide variety of foods in natura or minimally processed and restricted in highly processed foods ¹1. Food and Agriculture Organization; World Health Organization. Sustainable healthy diets: guiding principles. Rome (IT): FAO; 2019. . Although there is more than one way to classify food items according to the processing they have undergone, the NOVA system is by far the most widely used ²2. Santos FS, Dias MS, Mintem GC, Oliveira IO, Gigante DP. Food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review. Rev Saude Publica. 2020;54:70. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001704
https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020... , according to which foods are classified according to the extent and purpose of their industrial processing into four major groups: foods in natura or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods ³3. Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Levy RB, Moubarac JC, Louzada ML, Rauber F, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-41. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018003762
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001800376... . Based on this classification, the Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira (Food Guide for the Brazilian Population), published in 2014, recommends: that the diet be based on a wide variety of foods in natura or minimally processed; that processed culinary ingredients be used in small quantities to transform foods from the first group into culinary preparations; that processed foods, also in small quantities, be used as part of culinary preparations or accompaniments; and that the consumption of ultra-processed foods be avoided ⁴4. Ministério da Saúde (BR), Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde, Departamento de Atenção Básica. Guia alimentar para a população brasileira. 2. ed. Brasília, DF; 2014. .

Numerous evidence, including systematic reviews of cohort studies and with meta-analysis, shows that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemias, cardiovascular diseases, depression, cancers - such as breast cancer -, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as early mortality from all causes ²2. Santos FS, Dias MS, Mintem GC, Oliveira IO, Gigante DP. Food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review. Rev Saude Publica. 2020;54:70. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001704
https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020... , ⁵5. Askari M, Heshmati J, Shahinfar H, Tripathi N, Daneshzad E. Ultra-processed food and the risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2020;44(10):2080-91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650-z
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650... .

In Brazil, the evolution of household food availability classified according to the NOVA system has been documented based on the Pesquisas de Orçamentos Familiares (POF - Household Budget Surveys) carried out by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) since 1987–1988, in metropolitan areas, and since 2002–2003, in the country as a whole. The share of ultra-processed products in household food purchases increased both in metropolitan areas between 1987–1988 and 2002–2003, and for the country as a whole between 2002–2003 and 2008–2009, with important variations according to location and household income level ¹¹11. Martins APB, Levy RB, Claro RM, Moubarac JC, Monteiro CA. Increased contribution of ultra-processed food products in the Brazilian diet (1987-2009). Rev Saude Publica. 2013;47(4):656-65. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004968
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.20130... .

A new POF by IBGE in 2017–2018 allows updating the evolution trend of the household acquisition of food in Brazil, classified according to the extent and purpose of its processing, which is presented below in this article.

METHODS

This study used household food acquisition data from five editions of POF, conducted by IBGE, in the periods March 1987 to February 1988, October 1995 to September 1996, June 2002 to July 2003, May 2008 to May 2009, and July 2017 to July 2018.

In the research first two editions, representative samples of Brazilian households located in the main urban regions of Brazil (metropolitan region of Belém in the North region, Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador in the Northeast region; Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in the Southeast region; Curitiba and Porto Alegre in the South region; and the Distrito Federal and the municipality of Goiânia, in the Center-West region). In the three latest editions of the survey, the sample was expanded to represent, in addition to these domains, the complete set of households in the country. The surveys used a complex sampling plan, by clusters in two stages, involving the random selection of census sectors in the first stage and households in the second. The census sectors come from the IBGE’s master sample, grouped in strata of households with high geographical and socioeconomic homogeneity. For the construction of the strata, the following were considered: the geographic location of the sector; the situation of the household (urban or rural for samples with national representation); and, within each geographic locus, the spectrum of socioeconomic variation through the income of the individual responsible for the household.

The estimates obtained in the surveys with national samples represent the following domains: the country, the five large regions (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Midwest), the situation (urban or rural), the 26 federal units and the Distrito Federal, the nine metropolitan regions, and the 26 state capitals. A detailed description of the sampling process for the five surveys is available in IBGE’s publications ^aaInstituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Trabalho e Rendimento. Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares 2017-2018: avaliação nutricional da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2020. .

For the present study, the household clusters generated in the sampling plan (strata) were used as the unit of analysis. For the nationally representative analyses, in 2002–2003 the 48,747 households resulted in 443 strata with an average of 109.4 households per stratum (ranging from nine to 801); in 2008–2009 the 55,970 households generated 550 strata with an average of 101.7 households per stratum (ranging from eight to 796) and in 2017–2018 the 57,920 households resulted in 575 strata with an average of 86.5 households per stratum (ranging from 16 to 524).

For the trend analyses of the metropolitan regions, we used information from the IBGE System of Automatic Recovery (SIDRA) ^bbIBGE. SIDRA: banco de dados agregados. Brasília: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística; 2012. on food and beverage purchases in each of the nine metropolitan regions, the municipality of Goiânia and the Distrito Federal. In SIDRA, information is available on household clusters corresponding to 10 family income classes, totaling 110 strata per survey.

The information used in this study refers to food purchases for home consumption made during seven consecutive days, recorded by the residents of the household or by an IBGE interviewer in a collective expenditure booklet (in home measurements or in the acquisition unit itself) and converted into kilograms or liters by IBGE. We failed to cover data on food consumed outside the house with a satisfactory level of detail, so we left it out of this study.

Data collection for each survey was spread over the four quarters of the year, incorporating the seasonal fluctuation to which expenses are subject. We defined the acquisition quantities for the 1987–1988 survey indirectly by the relationship between expenses and reported items, due to the absence of data collected in this period.

Correction factors were applied to exclude the inedible fraction of the food ^ccIBGE. Tabela de composição de alimentos. Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística; 1969. . Then, we converted the edible amount of food into calories using the Brazilian Table of Food Composition ^ddUniversidade de São Paulo, Food Research Center. TBCA - Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos. São Paulo: FORC; 2019. .

All reported foods were categorized according to the four groups of the NOVA classification: 1) Foods in natura or minimally processed; 2) Processed culinary ingredients; 3) Processed foods; and 4) Ultra-processed foods ³3. Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Levy RB, Moubarac JC, Louzada ML, Rauber F, et al. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):936-41. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018003762
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001800376... .

Household food availability of the groups and subgroups was expressed by their share (%) in the calories available for consumption. The share of food groups and subgroups was estimated for all Brazilian families, by household situation (urban or rural) for each of the five geographic regions of the country and according to fifths of the distribution of household income per capita (2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 surveys), and for those residing in the 11 main urban regions of the country (1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 surveys).

We used linear regression models to evaluate the trend and the difference between the years in the share of foods in the diet of Brazilians during the period studied, with the first year of the survey as the explanatory variable and the groups and subgroups of foods as the outcome. We considered p < 0.05 for statistical significance in all analyses.

Weighting factors were used, considering the sample structure and expansion factors, allowing extrapolation of the results to the Brazilian population. All analyses were performed with the statistical package of the Stata software (StataCorp, version 16).

RESULTS

Table 1 describes the relative share of food groups and subgroups, according to the NOVA classification, in household food availability in 2002–2003, 2008–2009 and 2017–2018 in Brazil. In 2017–2018 48.7% of the calories available for consumption in Brazilian households were from foods in natura or minimally processed, 21.6% from processed culinary ingredients, 10.4% from processed foods, and 19.4% from ultra-processed foods.

Among foods in natura or minimally processed, the groups with the highest caloric contribution were: rice (15.1% of total calories), milk (4.7%), beef (4.6%), beans (4.1%), and poultry (4.1%). Still relevant in the Brazilian diet were fruit (2.8%), pasta (2.4%), wheat flour (1.7%), cassava flour (1.6%), and roots and tubers (1.2%). Among processed culinary ingredients, the subgroups with the highest calorie contribution were vegetable oil (10.7%) and sugar (9.4%). Among processed foods, the subgroups with the highest calorie contribution were bread (7.0%) and cheese (1.4%). Finally, among ultra-processed foods, cold cuts and sausages (2.7%), sweet cookies (2.2%), salted biscuits (1.9%), margarine (1.8%), cakes and sweet pies (1.4%), bread (1.4%), carbonated sweetened beverages (1.2%), and chocolate (1.2%) stand out.

Between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018 we observed a decrease in the percentage calorie share of foods in natura or minimally processed (on average -0.15 percentage points per year = pp/year) and processed culinary ingredients (-0.24 pp/year), in parallel with the increase in the share of processed (+0.07 pp/year) and ultra-processed (+0.31 pp/year) foods. The decline in the relative availability of foods in natura or minimally processed was more intense in the first period (2002–2003 a 2008–2009) than in the second period (2008–2009 a 2017–2018): 0.30 pp/year and 0.03 pp/year, respectively. A similar evolution was observed for the relative availability of processed culinary ingredients: a decline of 0.3 pp/year in the first period and 0.2 pp/year in the second period. On the other hand, the intensity of the increase in the relative availability of processed and ultra-processed foods decreased from the first to the second period: from 0.2 pp/year to stability for processed foods and from 0.4 pp/year to 0.2 pp/year for ultra- processed foods.

In the group of foods in natura or minimally processed, rice (-1.4%), milk (-0.7%), beans (-1.4%), cornmeal (-0.5%), cassava flour (-2.0%) and wheat flour (0.9%) followed the group’s trend, decreasing their share in household availability, while poultry (1.0%), beef (1.3%), fruits (0.7%), roots and tubers vegetables (0.1%), eggs (0.6%), vegetables (0.2%), pork (0.3%), and corn, oats, and other cereals (0.3%) all increased their availability in the period. Among the processed culinary ingredients, there was a drop in the share of vegetable oil (-1.0%) and sugar (-3.1%), as opposed to an increase in starch (+0.3%). The share of cheeses (+0.5%), fermented alcoholic beverages (+0.3%) and other processed foods (+0.1%) increased between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018. In the group of ultra-processed foods, we found an increase in the share of all subgroups, except for margarine, which remained stable, and carbonated sweetened beverages (-0.4%), whose share decreased.

Table 2 describes the availability of food groups and subgroups according to fifths of household income per capita between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018. In 2017–2018 the share in total calories of foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients decreased with increasing income: in the case of foods in natura or minimally processed, from 57.5% in the first fifth to 42.9% in the last; and processed culinary ingredients, from 21.8% in the first fifth to 20.0% in the last. Processed and ultra-processed foods increased their share in total calories along with income. This increase is moderate for processed foods, from 8.8% in the first fifth to 11.8% in the last fifth, and quite intense for ultra-processed foods, from 11.9% to 25.4%. However, the trend of variation in the subgroups with income was heterogeneous. Among foods in natura or minimally processed rice, beans and cornmeal decreased their share with the increase in income, while fruits, roots and tubers, and vegetables had their share increased. In the subgroups of processed culinary ingredients, with increasing income, there was a reduction in the caloric share of sugar and an increase in the share of animal fat. Among processed foods, rising incomes led to an increase in the calorie share of cheese, fermented alcoholic beverages, and other processed foods and a reduction in the share of salted/dried/smoked meats. Except for salted biscuits, all other ultra-processed foods increased their share of total calories as income increased.

When assessing the evolution of household food availability by income, one observes within the first four-fifths of income a clear trend towards a decrease in household availability foods in natura or minimally processed, and processed culinary ingredients, as opposed to an increase in ultra-processed foods between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018. On the other hand, in the top fifth of the income distribution, this trend is observed between 2002–2003 and 2008–2009, but stabilizes in the latest period. The second, third and fourth income fifths showed the largest increases in the percentages of share of ultra-processed foods.

Among foods in natura or minimally processed, an increase in the consumption of beef, eggs, and pork is observed in all fifths. In contrast, the consumption of cassava flour has decreased. Also, within this subgroup, we found an increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables and a decrease in the consumption of beans from the first to the fourth income quintile. Among processed culinary ingredients, we observe an increase in starch consumption and a decrease in sugar consumption in all income quintiles. Among the ultra-processed foods there is a significant increase in cold cuts and sausages, cakes and sweet pies, sweets in general, pizza, lasagna or pastry, ready meals, ice cream and ready-made sauces in all income classes. Also notable is the increase in the purchase of ultra-processed breads, chocolate, non-carbonated sweetened beverages, and dairy drinks in the first four-fifths of income and of salted biscuits between the second-fifth of income and the last.

Table 3 shows the percentage share of food groups and subgroups, according to NOVA, in urban and rural areas between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018. Comparing urban and rural areas, in 2017–2018 the share of foods in natura or minimally processed was higher in rural than in urban areas (58.2% versus 47.1% of total calories), as was the share of processed culinary ingredients (24.5% versus 21.1%). On the other hand, the share of both processed and ultra-processed foods was higher in urban areas (11.1% and 20.6%, respectively) than in rural areas (5.8% and 11.5%).

Consumption trends in urban and rural areas follow national trends, with a decline in consumption of foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients observed between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018, at the expense of an increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods. In the rural area a positive and significant trend was also observed in the percentage share of processed foods.

Table 4 describes the availability of food groups and subgroups, according to the major regions of the country. In 2017–2018 the share of foods in natura or minimally processed in total caloric food availability was the highest in the North and Northeast (58.3% and 54.2%, respectively) and the lowest in the Southeast, South, and Midwest (44.3%, 46.2%, and 50.5%). The shares of processed culinary ingredients and processed foods in total calories showed smaller variations, standing at 19.9%–23.9% and 8.3%–11.6%, respectively, in all regions. The share of ultra-processed foods in total calorie availability was the highest in the South, Southeast, and Midwest (23.5%, 22.5%, and 17.3%) and the lowest in the North and Northeast (11.9%, and 14.3%).

When assessing the trend of food procurement between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018, according to major regions, a significant drop in the purchase of foods in natura or minimally processed was observed in the North, Southeast, and South. Among the foods in this group we found a drop in the consumption of beans and cassava flour in all regions, in contrast to the increase in beef. Consumption of processed culinary ingredients declined in all regions except the North, whose share remained relatively stable between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018. In all regions there was a significant decline in the share of sugar in purchases. The consumption of processed foods remained stable in the North, Southeast, and South, and increased in the Northeast and Midwest regions. The increase in ultra-processed food purchases was observed in all regions. Trends in the purchase of carbonated sweetened beverages over the period evaluated proved quite similar in the five regions, with increase in their consumption between 2002–2003 and 2008–2009 followed by a decrease between 2008–2009 and 2017–2018.

Table 5 describes the evolution of household availability of food groups and subgroups based on the POFs of the country’s metropolitan regions conducted in 1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2002–2003, 2008–2009, and 2017–2018. Over this long period, we observe a decline in the share of foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients, and an increase in the relative percentage of processed and ultra-processed foods. In 1987–1988 the calorie share of the sum of the group of foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients made up about 80% of the calories consumed, while ultra-processed foods contributed only 10% of the calorie share. The period of the greatest increase in the share of ultra-processed foods and consequent decrease in foods in natura or minimally processed and culinary ingredients occurred between 1995 and 2003, when the annual growth rate of the share of ultra-processed foods was 0.8%, while in the other periods the growth rate observed was close to 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points per year. After 30 years, in 2017, the sum of the share of foods in natura or minimally processed and culinary ingredients accounted for 64% of dietary calories, while ultra-processed foods accounted for about 24% of them.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study show that foods in natura or minimally processed and culinary ingredients, the basis of culinary preparations traditionally consumed in the country, still predominate in the diet of the Brazilian population. In the North, Midwest, and Northeast regions, in rural areas and among families with lower incomes, the share of foods in natura or minimally processed and culinary ingredients contribute more than 50% of the calories purchased daily. In the South and Southeast regions, in metropolitan and urban areas, and among families with higher incomes, although foods in natura or minimally processed and processed culinary ingredients still predominate, ultra-processed foods already represent more than a fifth of the calories purchased by households.

Our results further reinforce the trend of increasing share of ultra-processed foods at the expense of consumption of culinary preparations ¹¹11. Martins APB, Levy RB, Claro RM, Moubarac JC, Monteiro CA. Increased contribution of ultra-processed food products in the Brazilian diet (1987-2009). Rev Saude Publica. 2013;47(4):656-65. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004968
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.20130... . But they also indicate a deceleration of this increase, which was 0.4 pp/year between 2002 and 2009 and went down to 0.2 pp/year between 2008 and 2018. We found similar trends in urban and rural households, across all regions and income levels in the country. In the metropolitan regions, for the period of about 30 years, the relative share of ultra-processed foods in the diet increased from 10.2% to 23.7% of total calories, representing an increase of 13.5% (more than 130% increase), with the interval from 1995 to 2003 showing the highest growth rate, 0.8% per year. Following the country’s trend, the growth speed of this food group has also decreased in the most recent period.

Opposite to foods in natura or minimally processed, we observed an increase in the availability of fruit and beef in the population’s diet between 2002–2003 and 2017–2019. Fruit consumption is considered a marker of healthy eating, as it is associated with protection against excessive weight gain and the development of several chronic non-communicable diseases ¹²12. World Health Organization. Diet, nutrition and prevetion of chronic diseases: report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. Geneva (CH): WHO; 2003. (WHO Technical Report Series; nº 916). . Even if this increase is seen as a positive aspect in the eating pattern, the consumption of fruit by the Brazilian population (approximately 54.9 g/day - non-tabulated data) is still far below the recommendation of the World Health Organization (400 g/day ¹²12. World Health Organization. Diet, nutrition and prevetion of chronic diseases: report of a Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation. Geneva (CH): WHO; 2003. (WHO Technical Report Series; nº 916). . Regarding beef, although it belongs to the group of foods in natura or minimally processed, its excessive consumption is associated with the development of diseases, such as certain types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and others ¹⁵15. Wang X, Lin X, Ouyang YY, Liu J, Zhao G, Pan A, et al. Red and processed meat consumption and mortality: dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19(5):893-905. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015002062
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001500206... , besides resulting in a high environmental impact ¹⁹19. Silva JT, Garzillo JMF, Rauber F, Kluczkovski A, Rivera XS, Cruz GL, et al. Greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and ecological footprint of food purchases according to their degree of processing in Brazilian metropolitan areas: a time-series study from 1987 to 2018. Lancet Planet Health. 2021;5(11):e775-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00254-0
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00... . It is worth noting that the increase in the share of beef in the diet of the population is observed in all income fifths, with the highest intensity in the lowest income fifths (the one with the lowest consumption at the beginning of the period studied).

The ultra-processed food subgroups generally showed similar trends, increasing between 1987–1988 and 2017–2018 in metropolitan regions and between 2002–2003 and 2017–2018 nationwide. The increase in the purchase of cold cuts and sausages, cakes and sweet pies, salted biscuits, ultra-processed breads, and ready meals stands out. Among the subgroups of ultra-processed foods, the exception was the subgroup of carbonated sweetened beverages that presented an increase in the first periods (1987–1988 to 2002–2003), observed only for the metropolitan regions for the longest time series under analysis, followed by stability and fall, both for metropolitan regions and for the country. The fall was more accentuated among households with greater economic power.

The decrease in consumption of carbonated sweetened beverages found in this study has also been observed in capital cities by the Sistema de Monitoramento de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas (Risk and Protective Factor Monitoring System for Chronic Diseases) ²⁰20. Ministério da Saúde (BR), Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Departamento de Análise em Saúde e Vigilância de Doenças Não Transmissíveis. Vigitel Brasil 2020: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico: estimativas sobre frequência e distribuição sociodemográfica de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas nas capitais dos 26 estados brasileiros e no Distrito Federal em 2020. Brasília, DF; 2021. as a result of a likely awareness of its harmful effects. The health risks associated with consumption of sweetened beverages, especially soft drinks, are widely pointed out in the literature ²¹21. Popkin BM, Hawkes C. Sweetening of the global diet, particularly beverages: patterns, trends, and policy responses. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2016;4(2):174-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00419-2
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00... , whose recommendation is to reduce the consumption of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, according to the Pan American Health Organization ²⁵25. Organização Pan Americana da Saúde. Diretriz: ingestão de açúcares por adultos e crianças. Genebra (CH): OMS; 2015. and the World Health Organization ²⁶26. World Health Organization. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children. Geneva (CH): World Health Organization; 2015. , ²⁷27. World Health Organization. Report of the commission on ending childhood obesity. Geneva (CH): WHO; 2016. .

The increase in the consumption of the other subgroups of ultra-processed foods, even if with a decrease in the speed of growth, remains worrying. The results show that this consumption is higher in the households with higher income, in the more developed regions, South and Southeast (22.5% and 23.5%), in the urban area (28.6%), and in the metropolitan regions (23.7%). There is a robust body of evidence in the scientific literature associating the consumption of this group of foods with poorer diet quality, with a higher percentage of free sugar, total and saturated fat, lower concentration of fiber and protein, and lower content of several minerals and vitamins ²⁸28. Martini D, Godos J, Bonaccio M, Vitaglione P, Grosso G. Ultra-processed foods and nutritional dietary profile: a meta-analysis of nationally representative samples. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3390. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103390
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13103390... . In addition to diet quality, evidence associates the greater share of this group of foods with increased risk of weight gain and obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, among others ²2. Santos FS, Dias MS, Mintem GC, Oliveira IO, Gigante DP. Food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review. Rev Saude Publica. 2020;54:70. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001704
https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020... , ⁵5. Askari M, Heshmati J, Shahinfar H, Tripathi N, Daneshzad E. Ultra-processed food and the risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2020;44(10):2080-91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650-z
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650... .

Despite the increasing trend, the share of ultra-processed food in Brazil is still lower, when compared to countries with higher income per capita , such as the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia ²⁹29. Machado PP, Martinez Steele E, Levy RB, Sui Z, Rangan A, Woods J, et al. Ultra-processed foods and recommended intake levels of nutrients linked to non-communicable diseases in Australia: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019;9(8):e029544. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029544
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029... , and in other middle-income countries, such as Chile and Mexico ³³33. Cediel G, Reyes M, Louzada MLC, Martinez Steele E, Monteiro CA, Corvalán C, et al. Ultra-processed foods and added sugars in the Chilean diet (2010). Public Health Nutr. 2018;21(1):125-33. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017001161
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001700116... , ³⁴34. Marrón-Ponce JA, Sánchez-Pimienta TG, Louzada MLC, Batis C. Energy contribution of NOVA food groups and sociodemographic determinants of ultra-processed food consumption in the Mexican population. Public Health Nutr. 2018;21(1):87-93. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980017002129
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001700212... . Brazil has a rich and diverse food culture, and each region has traditional regional food preparations ³⁵35. Ministério da Saúde (BR), Secretaria de Atenção á Saúde, Departamento de Atenção Básica. Alimentos regionais brasileiros. 2. ed. Brasília, DF; 2015. , which could explain, at least in part, the predominance of culinary preparations in the Brazilian dietary pattern. Another possible explanation for this is the relative prices of these foods in the country. In Brazil, the food pattern based on ultra-processed foods is still more expensive than that based on foods in natura or minimally processed ³⁶36. Claro RM, Baraldi LG, Martins AP, Bandoni DH, Levy RB. Trends in spending on eating away from home in Brazil, 2002-2003 to 2008-2009. Cad Saude Publica. 2014;30(7):1418-26. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00176113
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X0017611... . However, projection analyses indicate a tendency to reverse this incentive, due to the constant relative reduction in the prices of ultra-processed foods and the increase in the price of fresh foods, observed since the beginning of the 2000s ³⁷37. Maia EG, Passos CM, Levy RB, Martins APB, Mais LA, Claro RM. What to expect from the price of healthy and unhealthy foods over time? The case from Brazil. Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(4):579-88. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019003586
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001900358... . It is natural to believe that this trend has an influence on the increase in the share of ultra-processed foods observed in the period. It should also be kept in mind that, parallel to the scenario of change in prices, from 2014 on, the country experienced a significant economic crisis, with a period of inflationary pressure and income reduction for a significant portion of the population ³⁸38. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de População e Indicadores Sociais. Síntese de indicadores sociais: uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira 2020. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2020. (Estudos e Pesquisas. Informação Demográfica e Socioeconômica; nº 43). , ³⁹39. Barbosa Filho FH. A crise econômica de 2014/2017. Estud Avan. 2017;31(89):51-60. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-40142017.31890006
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-40142017.3... .

Educational actions may also have significantly influenced this process, especially since the publication of the Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira (Food Guide for the Brazilian Population), in 2014 ⁴4. Ministério da Saúde (BR), Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde, Departamento de Atenção Básica. Guia alimentar para a população brasileira. 2. ed. Brasília, DF; 2014. . The Guide was a pioneer in considering the degree of food processing in its recommendations, with direct orientations to avoid the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The document started a movement to raise awareness among health professionals and the population about the harmful effects of ultra-processed food consumption, serving as the basis for the creation of public policies aimed at reducing it. One example is the publication of resolution n.6 of May 8, 2020, which brought greater alignment of the Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar com o Guia Alimentar (National School Feeding Program with the Food Guide), limiting the acquisition of processed and ultra-processed foods with program resources to a maximum of 20%, and prohibiting the supply of ultra-processed foods for children up to three years old ⁴⁰40. Ministério da Educação (BR). Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Educação. Brasília, DF; 2017. .

Despite these advances and the slowing down of the growth of ultra-processed food in the Brazilian diet, the actions and policies implemented so far have failed to contain the general increase of this group, especially among lower income fifths. Promoting adequate and healthy eating implies the engagement and articulation of different sectors and players that need to advance in measures that promote healthy environments in institutional spaces, such as the regulation of ultra-processed food sales in school canteens; protection measures, such as the regulation of ultra-processed food advertising, especially that targeted at children; and pricing and taxation policies. Countries such as Mexico, France, the UK, and Hungary, for example, have adopted policies of taxing sweetened drinks ⁴¹41. Republique Française. Légifrance. Article 1613 ter. Créé par LOI n° 2011-1977 du 28 décembre 2011 - art. 26. Transféré par Décret n° 2012-653 du 4 mai 2012 - art. 1. Paris (FR); 2012. and the first results in Mexico, for example, showed a 6% reduction in the purchase of such drinks ⁴⁵45. Ng SW, Rivera JA, Popkin BM, Colchero MA. Did high sugar-sweetened beverage purchasers respond differently to the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Mexico? Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(4):750-6. https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001800321X
https://doi.org/10.1017/S136898001800321... . Similar policies could be incorporated and expanded to other ultra-processed foods in Brazil.

It is important to mention that changes in the political context in the last few years put at risk the advances achieved so far. In a technical note published in September 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply claimed a revision of the Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira (Food Guide for the Brazilian Population) under the false pretense that there was no scientific evidence to support the recommendations and guidelines of the Guide ⁴⁶46. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (BR), Secretaria de Política Agrícola, Departamento de Análise Econômica e Políticas Públicas. Nota Técnica nº 42/2020/DAEP/SPA/MAPA. Tem como foco central a solicitação, ao Ministério da Saúde, de revisão do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira. Brasília, DF; 2020. . The published note caused repudiation from organizations and academic institutions from Brazil and other countries that manifested in defense of the Brazilian Food Guide. A growing number of scientific studies highlight the association between ultra-processed foods and a decline in quality of diet and health outcomes ²2. Santos FS, Dias MS, Mintem GC, Oliveira IO, Gigante DP. Food processing and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review. Rev Saude Publica. 2020;54:70. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001704
https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020... , ⁵5. Askari M, Heshmati J, Shahinfar H, Tripathi N, Daneshzad E. Ultra-processed food and the risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2020;44(10):2080-91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650-z
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-020-00650... . Other countries, such as France, Canada, and Uruguay, have adopted targets to decrease the consumption of ultra-processed foods in their public policies ⁴⁷47. Ministère de la Santé e de la Prévention (FR); Ministére des Solidarités, de L’Autonomie et de Personnes Handicapées (FR). Programme National Nutrition Santé -PNNS. Paris (FR); 2019. . This exposes the fragility of food and nutrition policies in Brazil, resulting from economic pressures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study stands out for evaluating the availability of food in Brazilian households considering the groups and subgroups of the NOVA classification, which is internationally recognized and used in the recommendations of food guides. Although the study evaluates the diet of Brazilians based only on the availability of food for consumption at home and not its effective consumption by individuals, these data are useful for monitoring the feeding pattern of the Brazilian population, especially when the indicators used focus on the relative share and not the absolute quantities of food, and when eating at home represents about 70% of the calories ingested by the population ⁵⁰50. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Trabalho e Rendimento. Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares 2017-2018: avaliação nutricional da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2020. . Even with limitations, family purchases are related to individual consumption patterns ⁵¹51. Louzada MLC, Levy RB, Martins APB, Claro RM, Martinez Steele E, Verly Jr E, et al. Validating the use of household food acquisition of ultra-processed foods: evidence from Brazil. Food Policy. 2017;72:112-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.08.017
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.0... and, in Brazil, these data are the only source old enough to allow an analysis of food trends in the population, since data on actual consumption for a representative sample of the population are only available from 2008–2009 ⁵²52. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Trabalho e Rendimento. Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares 2008-2009: análise do consumo alimentar pessoal no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2011. . The short reference period (one week) for data collection on household food purchases means that POF estimates must be calculated from aggregates of households and not from individual households, as done in this study.

Among the strengths of this study, the following stand out: the rigorously probabilistic nature of the survey sample and the representativeness for the metropolitan regions from 1987 to 2017 and for the country as of 2003; the distribution of the sampling among the 12 months of the year, allowing for seasonal variations in food consumption.

Finally, we highlight that the trends in the dietary pattern of the Brazilian population, with the increasing share of ultra-processed foods revealed by this study, are consistent with the growing share of chronic non-communicable diseases in the morbidity and mortality profile of the Brazilian population, and particularly with the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the country.

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