FROM TRADITIONAL DISHES TO ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS: FACTORS SHAPING FOOD CONSUMPTION IN BRAZIL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/r8k7sm52Keywords:
Ultra-processed foods; Whole foods; Food consumption.Abstract
Introduction:The consumption of ultra-processed foods in Brazil has been increasing, occupying a growing proportion of the population's diet and gradually replacing unprocessed or minimally processed foods, contributing to the deterioration of dietary quality and increased risks of chronic diseases. This study aims to identify factors involved in the decrease in the consumption of unprocessed foods and the increase in ultra-processed foods in Brazil. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review. The search for articles was conducted using the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), PubMed, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). Inclusion criteria were works published between 2020 and 2025, with free and open access, full texts, and articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Results: The findings show that the reduction in the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods and the increase in the share of ultra-processed foods in the Brazilian population's diet constitute a complex and multifactorial phenomenon, strongly determined by sociodemographic, economic, behavioral, and environmental factors. In general, the studies analyzed converge in demonstrating that the current dietary pattern in Brazil reflects structural transformations in the food system, associated with urbanization, the globalization of food production and distribution systems, as well as changes in the population's lifestyle. Conclusion: Although the studies analyzed reveal heterogeneity in their findings, there is consensus regarding the influence of the urban context, changes in lifestyle, and the organization of the food system on individuals' food choices.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rivanna Sousa Moura, Aurilene Soares Souza, Andrea Nunes Mendes Brito, Edna Lara Vasconcelos Gomes Monteiro Ramos , Cláudia Thais Gomes Carvalho, Vanessa Cruz Carvalho, Victória Lorrany Alencar da Costa, Evelyn Larissa Viana Santos
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