Purchases and prices of unprocessed or minimally processed foods according to food outlets and income in Brazil.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the purchases and prices of unprocessed or minimally processed foods according to the type of food outlet and household income.

Design: Cross-sectional study conducted with data from the 2017-2018 Brazilian Household Budget Survey. Food acquisition and income were the variables of interest. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods were identified according to the NOVA classification, and the shares of energy (kcal) and quantity (grams), as well as prices paid, were analysed. Food outlets were grouped into nine types. Household income per person was assessed in quintiles (Q). Descriptive analyses were conducted.

Setting: Brazil.

Participants: A nationally representative sample of 57 920 households.

Results: The amount of unprocessed or minimally processed foods acquired varied from 320 g (Q1 of income) to 493 g (Q5). The increase in income had a positive effect on the share of foods purchased in supermarkets (Q1: 27·6 % v. Q5: 63·8 %) and fruit and vegetable retailers (Q1: 1·5 % v. Q4: 4·6 %). In contrast, an inverse relation was observed for Mini-markets (Q1: 34·9 % v. Q5: 16·2 %), butchers (Q1: 6·8 % v. Q5: 2·3 %), street markets (Q1: 13·3 % v. Q5: 3·8 %) and street food vendors (Q1: 5·3 % v. Q5: 1·0 %). The price paid for unprocessed or minimally processed foods in supermarkets, mini-markets, butchers and street markets was positively associated with income, which means that a higher mean price was observed in the highest income quintile.

Conclusions: The availability and affordability of unprocessed or minimally processed foods differed according to food outlets and were influenced by income level.