Citation
Fagundes Grilo, Mariana; Taillie, Lindsey Smith; Zancheta Ricardo, Camila; Amaral Mais, Laís; Bortoletto Martins, Ana Paula; & Duran, Ana Clara (2022). Prevalence of Low-Calorie Sweeteners and Related Front-Of-Package Claims in the Brazilian Packaged Food Supply. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(7), 1296-1304. PMCID: PMC9213564Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are increasingly being used worldwide, including in foods and beverages commonly consumed by children.OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of LCS in packaged foods and beverages sold in Brazil, whether LCS are added to products with advertising directed to children, and whether foods and beverages with LCS include front-of-package (FoP) LCS-related health and nutrition claims.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
SETTING: A sample (n = 11,434) of packaged foods and beverages sold by the top five largest Brazilian food retailers was examined to identify LCS and added sugars and a subsample (n = 3,491) was examined to determine the presence of advertising directed to children and FoP LCS-related claims in foods and beverages with LCS.
MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The prevalence of foods and beverages with different types of LCS in the Brazilian food supply, among ultra-processed foods and beverages and among foods and beverages with added sugars were measured. Foods and beverages with advertising directed to children were checked to see if these products had LCS, and how many products with LCS had FoP labels with LCS-related claims.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Mean and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the overall prevalence of foods and beverages with LCS and in the different assessed stratifications.
RESULTS: The prevalence of LCS was 9.3% (95% CI 8.8, 9.9) in Brazilian packaged foods and beverages, 14.6% (95% CI 13.8, 15.4) in ultra-processed products alone, and 5.7% (95% CI 4.2, 7.7) in foods and beverages with advertising directed to children. About 83% of food and beverage with LCS were also sweetened with added sugars. LCS were most frequently added to nonalcoholic sweetened beverages, breakfast cereals, and granola bars. Forty percent of foods and beverages with LCS did not present any front-of-package LCS-related claim.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that LCS are present in 15% of ultra-processed foods and beverages in Brazil, largely used in combination with added sugars, and are found in foods and beverages with advertising directed to children. Clearer FoP information regarding the presence of LCS, in particular in products with advertising directed to children, can help consumers make more informed choices regarding LCS consumption.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.12.009Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2022Journal Title
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAuthor(s)
Fagundes Grilo, MarianaTaillie, Lindsey Smith
Zancheta Ricardo, Camila
Amaral Mais, Laís
Bortoletto Martins, Ana Paula
Duran, Ana Clara