Abstract
Studies have shown that consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) may be associated with harmful health effects. The current study investigated the presence and types of LCS added to packaged foods. Cross-sectional study analysing the presence and types of LCS in the ingredients lists of packaged foods sold at a major Brazilian supermarket. To identify types of LCS allowed for use in foods in Brazil, current legislation was consulted. Data were organised and analysed through descriptive statistics, presenting simple and relative frequencies of LCS presence categorised by food group. Supermarket in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. Packaged food products (n 4539) from eight food groups. One or more LCS were found in 602 (13·3 %) of the packaged foods analysed. There were 1329 citations of LCS among these foods, with a mean of 2·2 sweeteners per food. Groups with the highest frequency of foods containing LCS were: products with energy derived from carbohydrates and fats (25·0 %); milk and dairy products (11·7 %); bakery products, cereals, legumes, roots and tubers (11·2 %); and fruits, juices, nectars and fruit drinks (8·3 %). There was high prevalence of packaged foods with LCS, especially in food groups that form the basis of the Brazilian diet. The study was the first to extensively analyse the presence and types of LCS in packaged foods available for sale in a Brazilian supermarket and can be useful to monitor the use of LCS in these foods, as well as to support future changes in legislation to label sugars.
Highlights
The milk and dairy products; bakery products, cereals, legumes, roots and tubers; and fruits, juices, nectars and fruit drinks groups had a considerable proportion of foods that contained low-calorie sweeteners (LCS): 11·7, 11·2 and 8·3 %, respectively
In the milk and dairy products group, the dairy dessert preparation powders and dairy drinks subgroups had the highest prevalence of foods containing LCS
Thirteen per cent of the packaged foods analysed in this Brazilian survey contained LCS
Summary
Study design The current study is a cross-sectional one in which all retailed packaged food products available in a large supermarket in Brazil were investigated. The supermarket chosen belongs to one of the three largest Brazilian chains, according to the Brazilian Supermarket Association, with twenty-seven stores throughout the country[21]. Among these three chains, we chose the only one that had stores in the state where the research was carried out. Most of the products sold in this store are well-known food and drink brands and represent those sold in other large supermarket chain stores throughout Brazil.
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