Ultra-processed products represent 20% of calories consumed in Brazil

Ultra-processed foods, manufactured with various ingredients involving salt, sugar, oils and fats, correspond to about one fifth (19.7%) of the calories consumed by the Brazilian population aged ten years or more, according to data released on Friday (21), by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).
Among ultra-processed patients, margarine represents 2.8% of total calories, followed by salted biscuits and "packaged" snacks (2.5%), sweet biscuits (1.7%) and cold and inlaid (1.6%). Industrialized desserts (1.4%), soft drinks (1.3%) are also on the list and hot dogs, hamburgers and other sandwiches (1.1%). The items "should be avoided", according to the food guide for the Brazilian population.
The salted biscuit and "package" snack were more relevant in the diet of women, with 2.9% of the total calories, against 2.0% for men. They also lead in the consumption of bread (2.3%) and dairy beverages (1.2%). For men, soda is the most relevant food (1.5% of total calories, against 1.1% for women).
The survey also points out that the highest participation of ultra-processed foods, in relation to the total caloric, was for adolescents (26.7%), being intermediate among adults (19.5%) and lower among the elderly (15.1%).
According to the POF (Family Budget Survey), Brazilians who reported consuming pizza and sandwiches, milk and dairy products, beverages with added sugar, and salted biscuits, had average fiber intake lower than the population average.
The average intake of saturated fat was higher than average for individuals who revealed to consume beef, sweet biscuit, sweet, cold and sausage, drinks with added sugar, milk and derivatives, and pizza and sandwiches.
The research highlights that most of the calories consumed come from fresh or minimally processed foods (53.4%), followed by processed culinary ingredients (15.6%) and processed foods (11.3%).