Food availability and advertising within food outlets around primary healthcare services in Brazil

Abstract

The consumer food environment is changing: an extensive variety of foods are now available in most markets, offering palatability, convenience and novelty. However, little is known about the availability and advertising of food items within food outlets, especially among developing countries. The present study examined these dimensions in 281 food outlets located around eighteen primary healthcare services in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2013. These establishments were classified as large-chain supermarkets; specialised fruits and vegetable (F&V) markets; and local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Availability of F&V, availability of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and food advertising were compared across the food outlet categories by applying the χ2 test. Almost 60 % of the food outlets were specialised F&V markets, 21⋅4 % were large-chain supermarkets and 19⋅2 % were local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Almost 80 % contained at least eight types of fruits and vegetables, and 60 % contained UPF. Food advertisement was absent in 59⋅8 % of the food outlets, 19⋅6 % were advertising only F&V and 17⋅4 % were advertising only UPF. Higher F&V availability was noted inside specialised F&V markets and large-chain supermarkets than local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries. Advertising of F&V was more common within specialised F&V markets. However, large-chain supermarkets and local grocery stores, convenience stores or bakeries contained more frequent UPF food advertising isolated: 38⋅3 and 35⋅2 %, respectively. Therefore, the availability and advertising of food items within food outlets around primary healthcare services are different according to the type of food outlet.

Local Food Environment and Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods: Cross-Sectional Data from the Nutritionists’ Health Study—NutriHS

“…The presence of establishments in the group of bakeries and coffee shops close to the participants’ homes was statistically associated with the consumption of unprocessed food. Traditionally, bakeries are establishments with greater demand and availability of processed and ultra-processed foods, such as breads, cakes, cheeses, and sausages [ 43 , 44 ]. However, changes in the food environment have allowed bakeries and confectioneries to add new products to their shelves, such as disposables products, beverages, and fresh foods such as fruits, contributing to the fact that non-baked products represented 38.35% of bakery sales in Brazil in 2020 [ 43 ].…”

“…However, small markets can be classified as establishments where the main purchase is of fresh foods or establishments where there is no majority purchase of either fresh or ultra-processed foods, characterizing a more “mixed” purchase (depending on the region or Brazilian state) [ 38 ]. In a study conducted in Belo Horizonte, which examined the availability and advertising of food outlets, it was identified that convenience stores, grocery stores, and bakeries had the highest availability and advertising of ultra-processed foods [ 44 ].…”