Conflicting Messages on Food and Beverage Packages: Front-of-Package Nutritional Labeling, Health and Nutrition Claims in Brazil

Abstract

We assessed the prevalence of front-of-package (FoP) claims in the Brazilian packaged food supply and examined whether foods with claims were more likely to be high in critical nutrients. Using data from a random 30% subsample of 11,434 foods and beverages collected in the five largest food retailers in Brazil in 2017 (n = 3491), we classified claims into nutrition, health, and environment. We examined whether foods with claims were more likely to be high in critical nutrients using 95% confidence intervals. Claims were found in 41.2% of the products. Nutrition claims were the most prevalent (28.5%), followed by health (22.1%), and environment-related claims (5.2%). More than 85% of the breakfast cereals, granola bars, and nectars contained claims, which were found in 51% of the dairy beverages. Foods with nutrition claims were more likely to be high in critical nutrients (65.3%; 95% CI 62.3, 68.2% vs. 54.1% 95% CI 52.1, 56.0). Products with health (52.9%; 95% CI 49.3, 56.4% vs. 58.5%; 95% CI 56.6, 60.3) and environment-related claims (33.5%; 95% CI 27.0, 40.8% vs. 58.6%; 95% CI 56.9, 60.2%) were less likely to be high in critical nutrients. FoP claims are prevalent in Brazil, and nutrition claims are more likely to have a poorer nutritional profile. Policymakers should consider restricting the presence of claims on unhealthy products.

Nutrition Claims Frequency and Compliance in a Food Sample of the Spanish Market: The BADALI Study

“…The frequency of NCs in biscuits in the Brasilian study (40.4%) was similar to our data (46.3%) [ 27 ], while it was lower in the Irish work (32%) and in a 16-country work of 737 sweet biscuits and chips (around 30%) [ 34 , 38 ]. In fact, 1.55 NCs/food was the rate obtained in Lalor et al [ 34 ] and 2.8 NCs/food in the present report.…”

“…Although not specifically stated, it is inferred from the regulation that, for EC, NCs include “nutrient content” and “comparative nutrient claims” [ 1 ]. The INFORMAS taxonomy, developed by The International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Research, Monitoring and Action Support, also includes health-related ingredient claims among NCs [ 27 ]. In Canada, the term “nutrition claim” also referrers to “nutrition content claims”, “health claims” and front-of-package symbols [ 28 ].…”

“…A small study in the UK (382 foods) obtained even lower prevalence: 16.5% of foods carried nutrient content claims, while 4.5% were comparative, with a rate of 1.3 and 1.1 NCs/food respectively [ 33 ]. The analysis of 3491 foods collected in the five largest food retailers in Brazil in 2017 found NCs in 28.5% of foods [ 27 ]. A higher frequency was also shown in other studies in Australia, Canada and Ireland.…”

“…Another study in New Zealand, considering both breakfast cereals and cereal bars, rendered lower values (around 60%) [ 32 ]. A prevalence over 80% were obtained in several studies in Brasil, Australia and Ireland [ 6 , 27 , 34 , 35 , 37 ]. However, the rate in the present work was higher (4.3 NCs/food) than in Lalor et al (2.2 NCs/food) [ 34 ].…”

Nutrient Composition of Foods Marketed to Children or Adolescents Sold in the Spanish Market: Are They Any Better?

“…The Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (PAHO-NPM) was used to classify foods as healthy or unhealthy following previous works [ 20 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. It provides thresholds for detecting foods high in critical nutrients, i.e., sodium, free sugar, total, saturated and trans-fat.…”