Approach to food processing in the main messages of food-based dietary guidelines: A qualitative analysis

Gris, Cintia Cassia Tonieto; Martinelli, Suellen Secchi; Fabri, Rafaela Karen; Cavalli, Suzi Barletto

doi:10.1590/1678-9865202336e220111

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Original | Food and Nutrition Policies • Rev. Nutr. 36 • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865202336e220111 copy

Approach to food processing in the main messages of food-based dietary guidelines: A qualitative analysis

Abordagem sobre o processamento de alimentos nas mensagens principais de guias alimentares mundiais: uma análise qualitativa

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Analyze the content of the main messages of the world food guides, identifying the approach regarding the food processing level.

Methods:

This qualitative exploratory study was conducted through documentary research based on analyzing the main messages of 96 consumption guides selected from the database provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The unit of analysis consisted of segments of the main messages whose content was scrutinized using the document analysis technique. Recommendations that referred to food processing were identified after repeated readings. Data were extracted according to the developed protocol, including terms used, consumption guidance, scope of approach, and complementary information (definition, justification, exemplification, and advice on the recommended consumption amount).

Results:

We identified 21 Food Guides (21.88%) with recommendations related to the food processing level in their main messages, primarily published after 2012 (76.19%). The analyzed guides used terms “highly processed”, “ultra-processed”, “processed”, “minimally processed”, and “non-processed”. Guidelines regarding limiting consumption were primarily used by the guides, and few specified the related food. The messages did not define the terms used. When identified, the justifications were of a nutritional or health nature.

Conclusion:

We observed a lack of agreement and standardization concerning the terms used, the guidelines for consumption, and the scope of the identified recommendations, with little or no additional information to explain or justify the approach adopted regarding the food processing level.

Keywords:
Diet, food, and nutrition; Diet, healthy; Industrialized foods; Recommended dietary allowances

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[1] Correspondence to: CCT GRIS. E-mail: <cctgris@gmail.com>.

Guides’ Characterization		Total		Include processing-level recommendations
Guides’ Characterization		n	%	n	%
Year of publication
	Before 2005	10	10.42	0	0.00
	2006-2011	27	28.13	5	23.81
	2012-2017	46	47.92	10	47.62
	2018-2021	13	13.54	6	28.57
Total		96	100.00	21	100.00
Place of publication
	Europe	34	35.42	8	38.10
	Latin America and the Caribbean	29	30.21	8	38.10
	Asia and Pacific	18	18.75	2	9.52
	Africa	7	7.29	2	9.52
	North America	2	2.08	1	4.76
	Middle East	6	6.25	0	0.00
Total		96	100.00	21	100.00

Country	Year of the last issue	Terms adopted	Consumption guidance	Coverage	Justification	Exemplification	Guidance on consumption amount
Romania	2006	Highly processed foods	Eat with moderation	Highly processed sugar-rich foods
Austria	2010	Processed foods	Should be consumed with moderation	Processed fat-sugar-and-salt-rich foods	X	X	X
Saint Kitts and Nevis	2010	Processed foods	Use less processed foods	Processed foods in general
Slovenia	2011	Processed and preserved foods*	Limit intake	Processed and preserved foods, in general
India	2011	Processed foods	Reduce use	Processed fat-sugar-and-salt-rich foods
El Salvador	2012	Highly processed products	Avoid	Highly processed products, in general
Cyprus	2013	Highly processed products	Limit intake	Highly processed foods in general	X
Brazil	2014	Minimally processed food; processed foods; ultra-processed foods	Make natural or minimally processed foods the basis of your diet; Limit the consumption of processed	Foods in general
			foods; avoid the consumption of ultra-processed foods
Colombia	2014	Processed meat	Reduce the consumption	Processed meat	X
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia	2014	Highly processed foods	Limit the consumption	Highly processed foods in general
Afghanistan	2015	Highly processed foods	Eat less	Highly processed foods in general
Benin	2015	Highly processed products		Processed foods in general	X
Jamaica	2015	Processed foods	Reduce the intake	Processed foods in general
Kenya	2017	Non-processed food	Include	Non-processed starchy foods
Belgium	2017	Ultra-processed products	Choose as little as possible	Ultra-processed foods in general
France	2019	Ultra-processed foods; processed meat	Limit the consumption	Ultra-processed foods, in general, and processed meat			X (for processed meat)
Poland	2019	Processed foods; Processed meat	Consume less and replace	Processed foods, in general, and processed meat		X
Ecuador	2020	Ultra-processed foods	Avoid the consumption		X
Panama	2019	Processed products	Limit the consumption	Processed sodium-rich products		X
Peru	2019	Processed foods; ultra-processed foods	Reduce the consumption of processed foods; avoid ultra-processed foods	Processed and ultra-processed foods in general	X
Canada	2019	Highly processed foods	Limit	Highly processed foods in general			X

Complementary Information	n (%)	Examples
Definition	0	-
Justification	6/21 (28.57)	Austria: “Some processed foods [such as sweets, pastries, fast food products, snacks and soft drinks) are high in fat, sugar, and salt and are less desirable nutritionally.” Benin: “Traditional foods are generally better for your health than highly processed products.” Cyprus: “Limit your intake of highly processed foods because they contribute significantly to the consumption of calories, fat, and salt in our diet.” Colombia: To maintain normal blood pressure, reduce the consumption of salt and foods high in sodium, like processed meats, canned foods, and packaged products. Ecuador: “Let’s protect our health: avoid consuming ultraprocessed foods, fast food, and sugar-sweetened beverages.” Peru: “Reduce the consumption of processed foods to protect your health”
Exemplification	3/21 (14.29)	Austria: “Some processed foods (such as sweets, pastries, fast food products, snacks and soft drinks) are high in fat, sugar and salt and are less desirable nutritionally.” Poland: “processed food products (such as fast food, salty snacks, biscuits, bars) high in salt, sugars and fats” Panama: “Limit your intake of processed products high in sodium, such as artificial sauces and seasonings, dry soups, cans, and jars.”
Recommended consumption amount	3/21 (14.29)	Austria: “They (processed foods) should be consumed sparingly - a maximum of one small serving a day.” France: “The consumption of processed meat, to 150 g per week” Canada: “Limit highly processed foods. If you choose these foods, eat them less often and in small amounts”