Food consumed outside the home in Brazil according to places of purchase

Abstract

OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the places of purchase of food consumed outside the home, characterize consumers according to the places of consumption, and identify the food purchased by place of consumption in Brazil.METHODS We have used data from the Pesquisa de Orçamento Familiar (Household Budget Survey) of 2008-2009 with a sample of 152,895 subjects over 10 years of age. The purchase of food outside the home was collected from the records of all expenditures made in seven days. The places of purchase were grouped according to their characteristics: supermarket, bakery, street food, restaurant, snack bar, fruit shop, and other places. The types of food were grouped into nine categories, considering the nutritional aspects and the marketing characteristics of the item. We have estimated the frequency of purchase in the seven groups of places in Brazil and according to gender and type of food purchased per place. We have calculated the average age, income and years of education, as well as the per capita expenditure according to places of purchase of food consumed outside the home.RESULTS The purchase of food outside the home was reported by 41.2% of the subjects, being it greater among men than women (44% versus 38.5%). Adults had a higher frequency (46%) than teenagers (37.7%) and older adults (24.2%). The highest frequency of places of purchase were snack bar (16.9%) and restaurant (16.4%), while the fruit shop (1.2%) presented the lowest frequency. Sweets, snack chips and soft drinks were the most purchased items in most places. Average expenditure was higher for restaurant (R$33.20) and lower for fruit shop (R$4.10) and street food (R$5.00).CONCLUSIONS The highest percentage of food consumed outside the home comes from snack bars and restaurants, pointing to important places for the development of public policies focused on promoting healthy eating.

Is the local food environment associated with excess body weight in adolescents in São Paulo, Brazil?

“…The same may apply to other types of non-fast food restaurants. As shown by Bezerra et al 43 , individuals who eat at restaurants usually have a better education and income status. The adolescent phase of life is characterized by increased independence from their parents and family, where they begin to make their own choices, including what to eat 54,55 .…”

“…Health Survey in São Paulo City (ISA-Capital), São Paulo, Brazil, 2015. food and other informal food trades, which are not registered in the Sanitary Surveillance, is unavailable. Previous research studies have found that these establishments are used by 4.6% of Brazilians 43 . Finally, it is not possible to conduct a qualitative analysis of the food establishments listed.…”

“…According to Bezerra et al 44 , young adults living in urban areas in the South and Southeast of Brazil are consuming more foods away-from-home daily, with a higher frequency at restaurants. Moreover, the consumption of fruit and vegetables were lower, with a decrease in the frequency of purchasing at markets 43 .…”

“…Among adolescents, 38.7% reported eating at these establishments once or twice a week and 12.6%, three or more times per week 42 . Although in Brazil most meals are prepared in a family environment, eating away-from-home has increased and so have the food expenses 43 . According to Bezerra et al 44 , young adults living in urban areas in the South and Southeast of Brazil are consuming more foods away-from-home daily, with a higher frequency at restaurants.…”

“…Since we did not assess the establishment where foods consumed were bought from, this can justify our null findings. Although some studies reported associations between healthy eating and access to supermarkets 46,47,48 , other studies conducted in Brazil showed that foods from supermarkets present low nutrition quality and are major sources of daily caloric intake, representing 49% of the total energy intake 43,48 .…”