Commercial foods for infants under the age of 36 months: an assessment of the availability and nutrient profile of ultra-processed foods

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Karini Freire da Rocha ◽  
Célia Regina Barbosa de Araújo ◽  
Inês Lança de Morais ◽  
Patrícia Padrão ◽  
Pedro Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
The One

ABSTRACT Objective: Considering the negative impact of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on health, this study assessed the availability and nutritional profile of commercial ultra-processed foods for infants in Natal, Brazil. Design: A cross-sectional exploratory study. Setting: Foods targeted at children under the age of 36 months sold in retail establishments located in high and low-income areas of the one capital city of Brazil. Participants: 1,645 food products consisting of 95 different types of food were available. The foods were assessed according to the NOVA classification: minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed. The nutritional content per 100g was assessed according to processing classification. Results: Half of foods founded were breast milk substitutes and cereal foods (31.6% and 26.3%, respectively). The foods were predominantly ultra-processed (79%) and only 4.2% were minimally processed, with similar proportions of ultra-processed foods being found in both high and low-income areas. After excluding breast milk substitutes and follow-up formulas, all cereals, food supplements and some of the fruit or vegetable purees were ultra-processed, higher in energy density, fat, carbohydrate and protein, and low in fiber (P<0.05). Conclusions: The findings reveal that ultra-processed foods for infants are widely available in Brazil, reaffirming the need to strengthen the regulation of foods for infants and young children by introducing complementary measures designed to promote the production and marketing of foods manufactured using lower levels of processing.

scholarly journals Assessment of Knowledge of Kenya’s Breast Milk Substitutes Act (2012) among Nurses in Mbagathi and Pumwani Hospital, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Nyaboke, Clement ◽  
Gesimba, Beatrice ◽  
Juma, Rose
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Infant Nutrition ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
And Control ◽  
Nurses Knowledge

Breast Milk Substitutes Regulation and Control Act, 2012 aimed to provide for appropriate marketing and distribution of breast milk substitutes, safe and adequate nutrition for infants, through the promotion of breast-feeding and proper use of breast milk substitutes. Nurses are responsible for providing information about benefits of breastfeeding to help the new mother to make a fully informed decision about infant nutrition. The aim of this study was to determine nurses' knowledge on the recommendations of the BMS Act in Mbagathi and Pumwani Hospitals, Nairobi County. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive research/study design. The target population were nurses who all work in maternity wards because of their responsibility for counseling mothers on infant nutrition. The study used a sample of 200 nurses. Questionnaires were use to collect data. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and chi-square Analysis with the help of SPSS. Majority (68%) of the respondents had high knowledge. There was a significant relationship (p=0.014) between the level of education and nurses knowledge on BMS. Nurse’s knowledge on the recommendations of the BMS Act was generally high. Nurses with bachelors and postgraduate degree were more likely to have high knowledge than those with certificates and diplomas in nursing. Diploma curriculum therefore needs to be bolstered to include current recommendations of breastfeeding in line with the BMS Act. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Breast Milk Substitutes Regulation and Control Act, Nurses knowledge.

scholarly journals IS ANYBODY KEEPING THE CODE IN BULGARIA? A STUDY TO EXPLORE LOCAL PARENTS' AWARENESS REGARDING THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR THE MARKETING OF BREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTES.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
Ivanichka Serbezova ◽  
Daniela Lyutakova
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Postnatal Care ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Parental Attitudes ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Prenatal Education ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Who Code ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes

This paper reviews Bulgarian parents’ awareness concerning the existence of the WHO Code for the marketing of breast-milk substitutes and how it can help them optimize their breastfeeding journey. Frequently occurring problems and breaches of the Code in Bulgaria are discussed, and their context explained. We focus on parental attitudes and investigate whether they acknowledge the significant necessity for a Code-compliant prenatal education and postnatal care. We also explore their viewpoints on the implementation of the Code and maximizing compliance with it on a local level. The research findings are presented graphically, and we present tendencies showcased by respondents’ opinions they have expressed in the survey. OBJECTIVES: Purposes of this research are: (1) to explore parents’ awareness about the WHO Code and their encounter with local prenatal classes in this regard (2) to assess their viewpoints on implementing the Code and if they see it as a significant step towards an optimal breastfeeding experience. METHODS: The methods we applied include an online-based cross-sectional semi-quantitative questionnaire with closed-ended and open-ended questions, aiming to explore parents’ current knowledge and viewpoints in regard to the Code and its implementation in Bulgaria. The research has been carried out via social media, and it samples parents from a local parent peer support group. Acquired data from closed-ended questions is presented, demonstrating percentages and tendencies. RESULTS: A total of 463 respondents are included CONCLUSION: It is a common practice in Bulgaria for prenatal classes not to comply with the WHO Code. Disregarding recommendations and evidence-based medicine, both some experts and companies under the scope of the Code breach its main points. Code-compliant prenatal education is practically almost non-existent with the lack of midwife-led care and classes, predominantly in the private sector, where they are almost entirely, sponsored by those companies. Nearly all parents included in this survey are more than willing and motivated to have access to Code-compliant prenatal education and postnatal care. The lack of such leaves almost no choice for Bulgarian parents actually to have access to code-compliant education and care. This inevitably influences their decision making, attitudes and behavior, potentially leading to lower breastfeeding rates and suboptimal breastfeeding satisfaction and success. Adequate measures must be reinforced to ensure implementation and proper legislation, providing monitoring and enforcement, protecting parents and their babies when they are most vulnerable.

scholarly journals Use of social media platforms by manufacturers to market breast-milk substitutes in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003574
Author(s):  
Catherine Pereira-Kotze ◽  
Tanya Doherty ◽  
Elizabeth C Swart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
National Legislation ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes

In South Africa (SA), exclusive breast feeding remains rare, with breast-milk substitutes (BMS) commonly being used in ways that are detrimental to infant and young child nutrition, health and survival. The use of internet, digital and mobile platforms has increased, including in low-income and middle-income countries, like SA and these platforms are avenues for BMS marketing. SA has national legislation (Regulation R991) to enforce the International Code of Marketing of BMS. This paper aims to provide pertinent examples of how BMS manufacturers in SA use social media to market their products thus violating national regulations. A digital (and social media) ethnography approach was used to study BMS organisations’ activity on Facebook and Instagram. Purposively selected examples of social media posts observed (from 2015 to 2019) were included, and content analysed in terms of national legislation. Several examples of BMS social media marketing are presented and interpreted according to provisions of national regulations that they violate. BMS manufacturers have found ways on social media to market their products in a media space that is complex to regulate, and where it is difficult to enforce national regulations. It is necessary to engage with stakeholders, notably social media companies, to alert them to relevant regulations applicable to their platforms. Monitoring the marketing of products for infants and young children by national governments needs to include online and digital platforms especially social media.

Dietary share of ultra-processed foods and its association with vitamin E biomarkers in Brazilian lactating women

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
N. C. M. Amorim ◽  
A. G. C. L. Silva ◽  
A. S. Rebouças ◽  
D. S. Bezerra ◽  
M. S. R. Lima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin E ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Alpha Tocopherol ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Processed Food ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lactating Women

Abstract Despite evidence showing that the intake of ultra-processed food has a negative impact on health, diet quality and dietary vitamin E, its impact on vitamin E nutritional status and breast milk remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on vitamin E biomarkers of lactating women. A cross-sectional study was performed with 294 lactating women. Food consumption was obtained by 24-hour dietary recall and foods were grouped according to the NOVA classification. Levels of alpha-tocopherol were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Breast milk vitamin E (BMVE) adequacy was based on the quantity of the vitamin in the estimated intake volume. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the tertiles and linear regression to association between ultra-processed food consumption and biomarkers. Ultra-processed foods accounted for 16% of energy intake and vitamin E intakes by all women were considered low. Serum alpha-tocopherol was 26.55 (SD 7.98) µmol/L, 5% (n=11) showed inadequate vitamin E (<12µmol/L), and 78% had an inadequate BMVE content (< 4mg/780mL). The regression showed that a higher dietary share of ultra-processed foods was associated with lower concentrations of serum alpha-tocopherol (β=−0.168, CI=−0.047–0.010, p=0.003) and inadequate BMVE content (β=−0.144, CI=−0.505–0.063, p=0.012) (adjustment for income and maternal age). Thus, higher dietary shares of ultra-processed foods had an impact on vitamin E biomarkers, suggesting that inadequate dietary intake practices during lactation may reduce the supply of vitamin E to women and breast milk.

scholarly journals Implementation of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in Vietnam: Marketing Practices by the Industry and Perceptions of Caregivers and Health Workers

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2884
Author(s):  
Tuan T. Nguyen ◽  
Ha T. T. Tran ◽  
Jennifer Cashin ◽  
Van D. C. Nguyen ◽  
Amy Weissman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Milk Formula ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
Commercial Milk ◽  
Depth Interviews

Background: The promotion of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) is an important barrier to successful breastfeeding. Objective: To examine the enactment and implementation of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (the Code) in Vietnam with a focus on marketing practices by the baby food industry and perceptions of caregivers, health workers, and policy makers. Methods: From May to July 2020, we conducted a mixed-method, cross-sectional study including a survey of 268 pregnant women and 726 mothers of infants aged 0–11 months and in-depth interviews with a subset of interviewed women (n = 39), policy makers, media executives, and health workers (n = 31). Results: In the previous 30 days, two mothers (out of 726) participating in the quantitative survey reported that health workers had recommended BMS, at private hospitals in both cases. In-depth interviews with health workers showed that hospitals have internal procedures to prevent the promotion of BMS by health workers. However, companies employed representatives to promote products not covered under the Code (e.g., commercial milk formula for pregnant women) at antenatal care visits and by gaining contact information from women and using this information to promote BMS outside the hospital, often on social media. In the 30 days preceding the survey, one-fifth of pregnant women were exposed to promotions of commercial milk formula for pregnant women and 7.1% to promotions of BMS. Among mothers of infants, 7.3% and 10.7% of respondents with infants aged 0–5 and 6–11 months, respectively, were exposed to some form of BMS promotion in the past 30 days. Around the time of birth, parents commonly brought BMS to maternity facilities (52.5%) or purchased it nearby (35.4%). Conclusions: Although Vietnam has a strong regulatory environment for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding, there are implementation, monitoring, and enforcement gaps. Stronger enforcement of national policies to regulate the presence of BMS industry representatives in health facilities—both public and private—and the promotion of BMS products on digital platforms are needed.

scholarly journals Ultra-processed foods in childhood: a system of violation of rights and food and nutrition insecurity

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (14) ◽  
pp. e64101421596
Author(s):  
Beatriz Gouveia Moura ◽  
Jamille Caroso de Andrade ◽  
Adriana Correia dos Santos ◽  
Rodrigo do Nascimento Lopes ◽  
Maria Emília Lisboa Pacheco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food System ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food And Nutrition

Discussions on the health consequences of the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are wide-ranging, but little has been addressed under systemic aspects, human rights, sovereignty and food and nutrition security, and socio-environmental sustainability. For this reason, the aim of this article was to analyze the systemic implications of children's access to UPFs. Secondary data from a cross-sectional survey conducted with pre-school students of two private schools in a capital city in the Northeastern region of Brazil were analyzed through the analysis of lunch boxes for three consecutive days. The most frequent UPFs had information about the manufacturing location, ingredients, and brand collected from their labels and subsequently studied. We noticed that most of the products were manufactured in other states, being transported for long distances, had little ingredient diversity, and belonged to sub-brands that conglomerate into “big players”. In this sense, we conclude that children are having their right to food violated and that access to UPFs by this public supports a hegemonic and unsustainable food system from a socio-environmental point of view that contributes to food and nutrition insecurity.

scholarly journals Trends in Ultra-Processed Food Purchases from 1984 to 2016 in Mexican Households

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquín Marrón-Ponce ◽  
Lizbeth Tolentino-Mayo ◽  
Mauricio Hernández-F ◽  
Carolina Batis
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
National Income ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Purchases ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Daily Record ◽  
Record Instrument

Global trade agreements have shaped the food system in ways that alter the availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability of ready-to-eat foods. We assessed the time trends of ultra-processed foods purchases in Mexican households from 1984 to 2016. Cross-sectional data from 15 rounds of the National Income and Expenditure Survey (1984, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016) were analyzed. Food and beverage purchases collected in a daily record instrument (over seven days) were classified according to their degree of processing according to the NOVA food framework: (1) Unprocessed or minimally processed foods; (2) processed culinary ingredients; (3) processed foods; and (4) ultra-processed foods. From 1984 to 2016, the total daily energy purchased decreased from 2428.8 to 1875.4 kcal/Adult Equivalent/day, there was a decrease of unprocessed or minimally processed foods (from 69.8% to 61.4% kcal) and processed culinary ingredients (from 14.0% to 9.0% kcal), and an increase of processed foods (from 5.7% to 6.5% kcal) and ultra-processed foods (from 10.5% to 23.1% kcal). Given that ultra-processed foods purchases have doubled in the last three decades and unprocessed or minimally processed foods purchased have gradually declined, future strategies should promote the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods, and discourage ultra-processed foods availability and accessibility in Mexico.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document