Healthy eating in supermarket circulars: reflections according to the food classification adopted in dietary guidelines for the Brazilian population

Abstract

The present study evaluated the promotion of natural/minimally processed foods (N/ MPF) subgroups advertised in supermarket circulars by considering supermarket features and cir-cular typology. We analyzed circulars published by five supermarket chains in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (June/2019-May/2020) and present data on the socioeconomic coverage and profile of the supermarkets and the types of circulars. Of the 68,110 types of foods, 30.6% were N/MPF. Meat/eggs were the most promoted ones (42.3%), followed by fruits/vegetables (20.2%), which were more often advertised by produce shop circulars. Dairy products, cereals/ flours/pasta and beverages/infusions made up around 10.0% of the ads. Legumes (3.8%), spices and mushrooms (0.2%) and oilseeds (0.1%) were rarely promoted. Statistically significant differences were found in the promotion of subgroups according to supermarket coverage and their socioeconomic profiles. Fruits/vegetables were more often advertised by national chains and aimed at a high-income public than by local companies and aimed at a low/middle-income public. Promotion of N/MPF subgroups was disproportional due to differences among chains and types of cir-culars. As a result, a discussion on the regulation of food promotion in food retail is required.