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Trends in ultra-processed food availability and its association with diet-related non-communicable disease health indicators in the Portuguese population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

Taissa Pereira de Araújo Open the ORCID record for Taissa Pereira de Araújo [Opens in a new window] ,
Milena Miranda de Moraes Open the ORCID record for Milena Miranda de Moraes [Opens in a new window] ,
Cláudia Afonso  and
Sara Simões Pereira Rodrigues Open the ORCID record for Sara Simões Pereira Rodrigues [Opens in a new window]
Taissa Pereira de Araújo*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto – Rua do Campo Alegre, 823 Porto 4150-180, Portugal Associated Laboratory ITR, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto – Rua das Taipas, 135/139 Porto 4050-600, Portugal
Milena Miranda de Moraes
Affiliation:
Associated Laboratory ITR, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto – Rua das Taipas, 135/139 Porto 4050-600, Portugal
Cláudia Afonso
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto – Rua do Campo Alegre, 823 Porto 4150-180, Portugal Associated Laboratory ITR, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto – Rua das Taipas, 135/139 Porto 4050-600, Portugal
Sara Simões Pereira Rodrigues
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto – Rua do Campo Alegre, 823 Porto 4150-180, Portugal Associated Laboratory ITR, Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto – Rua das Taipas, 135/139 Porto 4050-600, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author: Taissa Pereira de Araújo, email taissa.pereira@gmail.com
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Abstract

Broad variations in dietary and physical activity patterns are part of nutritional transition concept. An additional nutritional transition has as main characteristic the change of consumption of processed foods for ultra-processed foods (UPF). This study aims to evaluate trends of UPF availability in Portuguese population and its association with diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCD) health indicators. This ecological study used data from the Household Budget Surveys conducted by the National Statistics Institute each 5 years within a national representative sample of households. The percentage of UPF was calculated based on the total daily amount of food and beverages available per capita (in grams). Data from the years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 were used, which were retrieved from DAFNE-Anemos Software. NCD age-standardised mortality, prevalence and incidence were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease database, for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Between 1990 and 2005, the UPF availability increased from 3·9 % to 13·8 %. Over the years, almost all food and beverages categories increased the UPF availability contribution, mainly noticeable for milk, sugar, cereal and meat products. Positive correlations were observed between UPF availability and digestive diseases both in prevalence (r = 0·062; P = 0·037) and incidence (r = 0·005; P = 0·010) measures. Neoplasms incidence also showed positive correlation with UPF availability (r = 0·002; P = 0·012). Trends in UPF availability in Portugal increased exponentially. At the same time, there is a trend towards a decrease in unprocessed and processed food availability. The Portuguese population should be made aware of the health risks resulting from excessive consumption of UPF.

Keywords

Ultra-processed foodNon-communicable diseasesEcological studyFood processingFood consumption trends
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 131 , Issue 9 , 14 May 2024 , pp. 1600 - 1607
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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