Main food sources of sugar in Brazil: the National Dietary Survey, 2008–2009

Abstract

In order to evaluate major food sources of added, free and total sugars in Brazil according to sex, age and income, day‐1 food records from 34,003 participants (≥10yrs) in the 2008–2009 Brazilian National Dietary Survey were analyzed. Foods were classified into 40 groups according to nutrient profile. The mean percentage of energy intake from total, added and free sugar intake was 19.6%, 13.5% and 18.5%, respectively. Women had higher intake of sugar than men; sugar consumption decreased with age and increased with income quartile. Juices, coffee and soft drinks were the major sources of total, added and free sugar in the Brazilian diet. These three food groups together contributed to 58%, 65% and 73 % of the percent of calories from total, added and free sugar, respectively. For all age‐sex groups those reporting consumption of soft drinks and cookies had higher mean energy intake, indicating these food groups as markers of excessive intake of sugar and energy in the Brazilian population. Our results emphasize the importance of public health efforts to limit sugar sweetened beverage and cookie consumption, particularly among adolescents, as an effort to curb obesity.