Ultra-processed foods: Consumption among children at day-care centers and their classification according to Traffic Light Labelling system

Autor(es)

Longo-Silva, Giovana ^[1] ; de Aguiar Toloni, Maysa Helena ^[2] ; Egito de Menezes, Risia Cristina ^[1] ; Asakura, Leiko ^[3] ; Araujo Oliveira, Maria Alice ^[3] ; de Aguiar Carrazedo Taddei, Jose Augusto ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Alagoas, Fac Nutr, Programa Posgrad Nutr, BR-57072900 Maceio, AL - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Lavras, Curso Nutr, Dept Ciencias & Alimentacao, Lavras, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Alagoas, Fac Nutr, Curso Nutr, BR-57072900 Maceio, AL - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Programa Posgrad Pediat, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: REVISTA DE NUTRICAO-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION; v. 28, n. 5, p. 543-553, SEP-OCT 2015.
• Citações Web of Science: 3

Resumo

Objective To identify the age at which ultra-processed foods are introduced in the diet of infants enrolled in public daycare centers and analyze these foods' nutritional composition according to the Traffic Light Labelling system adapted to the Brazilian norms and recommendations. Methods Cross-sectional study including 636 nursery age children attending day care centers. Their mothers were interviewed about the age of introduction of instant noodles, snack chips, encased meat, chocolate, ice cream, and stuffed cookies. The proximate composition of these foods was evaluated according to the Traffic Light Labelling adapted to the Brazilian norms and recommendations, which classifies total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, fiber, and sodium amounts as green, yellow, or red indicators. Results It was found that before 12 months of age 70.6% of children had consumed instant noodles, 65.9% snack chips, 54.7% encased meat, 67.1% chocolate, 36.9% ice cream, and 68.7% stuffed cookies. In addition, all foods were classified as red for saturated fat and sodium and 50.0% were classified as red for total fat. Conclusion The introduction of ultra-processed foods in the children's diets occurred early, but it is worth mentioning that such foods have an inadequate nutritional composition, contributing to the excess consumption of total fat, saturated fat, and sodium, as well as low fiber. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/02597-0 - Impacto do treinamento de educadoras de creches públicas/filantrópicas nas práticas higiênico-dietéticas e na saúde/nutrição dos lactentes
• Beneficiário: Jose Augusto de Aguiar Carrazedo Taddei
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular