sergeyryzhov / Getty Images Processed meats increase the risk of various types of cancersergeyryzhov / Getty Images
The higher the income, the greater the consumption of ultra-processed foods, according to a study by the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine at the University of São Paulo (USP). Preferences for soft drinks, sausages, ham, sandwich cookies, frozen meals, instant noodles, ready-made sauces, and other industrialized products high in fat, sugar, and preservatives were highest in state capitals and in the South and Southeast regions, and lowest in rural areas and in the states of Piauí, Maranhão, and Tocantins. The study covered all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities based on data from the 2010 national census. The municipality with the lowest consumption was Aroeiras do Itaim in Piauí, with an average of 5.75% of total daily calories coming from ultra-processed foods, followed by Dois Irmãos in Tocantins with 5.83%, and Monte Santo do Tocantins (in the same state), with 5.87%. Those with the highest consumption were all in Santa Catarina: Florianópolis (30.5%); São José (28.3%); and Balneário Camboriú (27.8%). In the state of São Paulo, the value exceeded 18% in every municipality, and in the state capital it was 25.5%, slightly below the 25.7% of Salvador in Bahia. The Brazilian Dietary Guide recommends choosing fresh or minimally processed food over ultra-processed options, which are linked to a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease when eaten regularly (Journal of Public Health, June 27).
Republish