Absence of symbolic and sustainable aspects in recommendations for healthy eating: a qualitative analysis of food-based dietary guidelines

Fabri, Rafaela Karen; Martinelli, Suellen Secchi; Perito, Maria Angela; Fantini, Andrea; Cavalli, Suzi Barletto

doi:10.1590/1678-9865202134e200120

Cited by 4 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…Socio-cultural factors, such as religion, age and gender, affect how a person experiences the in-store environment (Burton et al, 2017). Other socio-cultural factors essential to food consumption are dietary/food patterns and relationships with food emerging from the society and care for the environment (Fabri et al, 2021). Cultural and emotional transfer or sharing also comes into play during food choices (Aktas ¸-Polat and Polat, 2020).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, 2017). Other socio-cultural factors essential to food consumption are dietary/food patterns and relationships with food emerging from the society and care for the environment (Fabri et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Background and Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…hunger and health) accompanies symbolic meaning attached to consumption in terms of cultural and social contexts and experiences (Lupton, 1994; Aktaş-Polat and Polat, 2020). Therefore, guidelines for food consumption should stretch beyond the nutritional aspects to include aspects such as symbolic meaning or value and sustainability (Fabri et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…hunger and health) accompanies symbolic meaning attached to consumption in terms of cultural and social contexts and experiences (Lupton, 1994;Aktas ¸-Polat and Polat, 2020). Therefore, guidelines for food consumption should stretch beyond the nutritional aspects to include aspects such as symbolic meaning or value and sustainability (Fabri et al, 2021). Amid this multitude of influencing factors on consumers' food choices, our study focussed on supporting healthy food choices in the context of the globally rising incidence of non-communicable diseases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marketing and family-related factors affecting food label use: the mediating role of consumer knowledge

Merwe

Beer

Nel

et al. 2021

BFJ

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PurposeThis study investigated the influence of marketing- and family-related factors on consumers' in-store usage of different types of food label information. Furthermore, the authors determined the mediating role of consumers' knowledge about healthy foods between these factors and their label consultation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a survey among 223 purposively selected South African working female consumers via social media. Subjective and objective knowledge about healthy foods, the importance of marketing- and family-related factors and the extent of food label usage were determined. Structural equation modelling served to test the mediating effect of knowledge in the relationship of the marketing and family-related factors with food label usage.FindingsMarketing-related factors demonstrated a strong direct effect on food label usage. Subjective knowledge about healthy foods mediated the relationship between family members' dietary needs and food label usage. However, objective knowledge was not a mediator.Practical implicationsRespondents' firm reliance on marketing-related factors (instead of knowledge) during food label usage is not in the best interest of consumers' healthy food choices. Healthy food choices based on factual knowledge rather than marketing efforts are necessary to establish long-term healthy food habits, hence the need for retailers' response in supplying healthier food options. Role players in consumer education should focus on increasing consumers' healthy food knowledge.Originality/valueIn the context of rising awareness of public health concerns, healthy food choice among consumers is essential. This study contributes to the complexity of consumers' need to make healthy food choices within an economic-driven marketing environment.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Background and Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marketing and family-related factors affecting food label use: the mediating role of consumer knowledge

Merwe

Beer

Nel

et al. 2021

BFJ

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“…According to Scrinis (2013), types of processing, methods of agricultural production, as well as personal experiences of eating, cultural, economic and ecological relations should also be considered. Following this line of reasoning, researchers have called for healthy eating recommendations to consider the completeness of the food and its various combinations, dietary patterns and the factors associated with their consumption, as well as the individual's relations with food, environment and society (Fabri et al, 2021). Additionally, in a few countries like Brazil, dietary guidelines have started to consider some of these other aspects (such as processing levels), overcoming the focus on nutrient profiling and intake alone in their recommendations (Brazilian Ministry of Health, 2015).…”

Section: Marle Dos Santos Alvarengamentioning

confidence: 99%

Food healthiness judgements among Brazilian and German lay adults

Moraes,

Sproesser,

Alvarenga

2023

Nutrition Bulletin

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This study investigated which foods are most saliently judged as healthy and unhealthy in Brazil and Germany and the reasons for these judgements. Dietary guidelines in the two countries differ in that those in Brazil are based on a food processing classification rather than nutrient profiling, whereas dietary guidelines in Germany do not include the processing level of food. In an online study with 355 lay adults (Brazil n = 205, Germany n = 150), we explored which foods are listed as healthy and unhealthy using a free‐listing method. The main reasons for these healthiness judgements were then identified with a one or two‐word phrase and compared between countries. Saliency analysis was conducted to identify the 15 most salient healthy and unhealthy foods in each country. Principles of content analysis were used to assess the reasons why these 15 items were listed as most salient by the participants. Results showed that both Brazilians and Germans listed mostly natural or minimally processed food (e.g. fruits, vegetables, grains, fish and milk) as healthy, whereas types of convenience and fast food, sweets and other ultra‐processed foods (e.g. chocolate, soda, French fries, pizza and hamburger) were the most salient unhealthy items listed in both countries. Differences in culturally relevant items listed in each country are discussed. Further, in both countries, despite differences in their dietary guidelines, food healthiness judgements for the most salient items listed relied heavily on the nutritional content of food, reinforced the ‘good/healthy’ and ‘bad/unhealthy’ dichotomy, and were centred on benefits or harms to the body (e.g. prevention or cause of diseases and weight control). The similarity of food healthiness judgements between the two countries, together with their agreement with conventional health claims and dietary guidelines, suggest that lay Brazilian and German adults are knowledgeable about the general concepts of ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ food. Finally, these findings suggest that rather than just providing more nutritional information, policymakers and health professionals need to take into account the multiple psychosocial and environmental determinants of eating in these countries.

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Approach to food processing in the main messages of food-based dietary guidelines: A qualitative analysis

Gris,

Martinelli,

Fabri

et al. 2023

Rev. Nutr.

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Objective: Analyze the content of the main messages of the world food guides, identifying the approach regarding the food processing level. Methods: This qualitative exploratory study was conducted through documentary research based on analyzing the main messages of 96 consumption guides selected from the database provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The unit of analysis consisted of segments of the main messages whose content was scrutinized using the document analysis technique. Recommendations that referred to food processing were identified after repeated readings. Data were extracted according to the developed protocol, including terms used, consumption guidance, scope of approach, and complementary information (definition, justification, exemplification, and advice on the recommended consumption amount). Results: We identified 21 Food Guides (21.88%) with recommendations related to the food processing level in their main messages, primarily published after 2012 (76.19%). The analyzed guides used terms “highly processed”, “ultra-processed”, “processed”, “minimally processed”, and “non-processed”. Guidelines regarding limiting consumption were primarily used by the guides, and few specified the related food. The messages did not define the terms used. When identified, the justifications were of a nutritional or health nature. Conclusion: We observed a lack of agreement and standardization concerning the terms used, the guidelines for consumption, and the scope of the identified recommendations, with little or no additional information to explain or justify the approach adopted regarding the food processing level.

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Absence of symbolic and sustainable aspects in recommendations for healthy eating: a qualitative analysis of food-based dietary guidelines

Cited by 4 publications

References 54 publications

Marketing and family-related factors affecting food label use: the mediating role of consumer knowledge

Marketing and family-related factors affecting food label use: the mediating role of consumer knowledge

Food healthiness judgements among Brazilian and German lay adults

Approach to food processing in the main messages of food-based dietary guidelines: A qualitative analysis

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