Over the past 30 years, the quality of the average Brazilian’s diet seems to have worsened, with harmful effects on the environment. Based on five years of data from the household budget survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) and their colleagues from England outlined the dietary changes and environmental impact associated with the consumption of each thousand kilocalories (kcal). For each 1,000 kcal generated for consumption by Brazilians in 2017–18, 21% more greenhouse gases were emitted and 22% more water was used in an area 17% larger than in 1987–88 (Lancet Planetary Health, November). The proportion of unprocessed or minimally processed foods in the diet dropped from 52% to 42% during the period, while ultra-processed foods (cookies, cold meats, soft drinks) rose from 10% to 23%. The environmental impact related to the consumption of 1,000 kcal of unprocessed or minimally processed foods did not change, while the emission of greenhouse gases associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods increased by 245%, the use of water by 233%, and the area needed for production by 49%.
RepublishNutrition
Worst diet for the body and the environment
Consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods has fallen over the last 30 years
Léo Ramos Chaves
