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Background: While healthy and sustainable diets benefit human and planetary health, their monetary cost has a direct impact on consumer food choices. This study aimed to identify the cost and environmental impact of the current Brazilian diet (CBD) and compare it with healthy and sustainable diets., Methods: Data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey 2017/18 and the Footprints of Foods and Culinary Preparations Consumed in Brazil database were used for a modeling study comparing the cost of healthy and sustainable diets (based on the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines (BDG) diet and the EAT-Lancet diet) versus the CBD. The DIETCOST program generated multiple food baskets for each scenario (Montecarlo simulations). Nutritional quality, cost, and environmental impact measures (carbon footprint (CF) and water footprint (WF)) were estimated for all diets and compared by ANOVA. Simple linear regressions used standardized environmental impacts measures to estimate differentials in costs and environmental impacts among diets scenarios., Results: We observed significant differences in costs/1000 kcal. The BDG diet was cheaper (BRL$4.9 (95%IC:4.8;4.9) ≈ USD$1.5) than the CBD (BRL$5.6 (95%IC:5.6;5.7) ≈ USD$1.8) and the EAT-Lancet diet (BRL$6.1 (95%IC:6.0;6.1) ≈ USD$1.9). Ultra-processed foods (UPF) and red meat contributed the most to the CBD cost/1000 kcal, while fruits and vegetables made the lowest contribution to CBD. Red meat, sugary drinks, and UPF were the main contributors to the environmental impacts of the CBD. The environmental impact/1000 kcal of the CBD was nearly double (CF:3.1 kg(95%IC: 3.0;3.1); WF:2,705 L 95%IC:2,671;2,739)) the cost of the BDG diet (CF:1.4 kg (95%IC:1.4;1.4); WF:1,542 L (95%IC:1,524;1,561)) and EAT-Lancet diet (CF:1.1 kg (95%IC:1.0;1.1); WF:1,448 L (95%IC:1,428;1,469)). A one standard deviation increase in standardized CF corresponded to an increase of BRL$0.48 in the cost of the CBD, similar to standardized WF (BRL$0.56). A similar relationship between the environmental impact and the cost of the BDG (CF: BRL$0.20; WF: BRL$0.33) and EAT-Lancet (CF: BRL$0.04; WF: BRL$0.18) was found, but with a less pronounced effect., Conclusions: The BDG diet was cost-effective, while the EAT-Lancet diet was slightly pricier than the CBD. The CBD presented almost double the CF and WF compared to the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. The lower cost in each diet was associated with lower environmental impact, particularly for the BDG and EAT-Lancet diets. Multisectoral public policies must be applied to guide individuals and societies towards healthier and more sustainable eating patterns., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study aimed to analyze the economic impact of the adoption of optimized and nutritionally balanced diets to Brazilian families, considering the Brazilian dietary guidelines and the economic disparities of the population. Data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey from 2008-2009 (550 strata; 55,970 households) were used. About 1,700 foods and beverages purchased by the Brazilians were classified into 4 groups according to NOVA system. Linear programming models estimated isoenergetic diets preserving the current diet as baseline and optimizing healthier diets gradually based on the "golden rule" of the Brazilian dietary guidelines, respecting nutritional restrictions for macronutrients and micronutrients (based on international recommendations) and food acceptance limits (10th and 90th percentiles of the per capita calorie distribution from the population). The diet cost was defined based on the sum of the average cost of each food group, both in the current and optimized diets (BRL per 2,000Kcal/person/day). The economic impact of the Brazilian dietary guidelines to Brazilian household budget was analyzed by comparison the cost of the optimized diets to the cost of the current diet, calculated for the total population and by income level. Three healthier diets were optimized. Current diet cost was BRL 3.37, differed among low- and high-income strata (BRL 2.62 and BRL 4.17, respectively). Regardless of income, diet cost decreased when approaching the guidelines. However, low-income strata compromised their household budget more than two times the high-income strata (20.2% and 7.96%, respectively). Thus, the adoption of healthier eating practices can be performed with the same or lower budget.

Objective: To identify changes in traditional dietary behaviour through the evaluation of trends in bean consumption among adults in Brazil between 2007 and 2017 and to estimate its projections up to 2030., Design: Time-series analysis conducted with data from the Surveillance System for Protective and Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (Vigitel) between 2007 and 2017. Weekly consumption of beans was analysed. Prais-Winsten regression evaluated trends for the entire period of study (2007-2017) and in two periods of analyses (2007-2011 and 2012-2017) for the complete set of the population and stratified by socio-demographic characteristics. Estimated prevalence projections were calculated up to the year 2030 using its tendency from 2012 to 2017., Setting: Brazil., Participants: A probabilistic sample of 572 675 Brazilian adults aged ≥ 18 years., Results: Changes in traditional dietary pattern were identified. Regular consumption of beans (≥ 5 d/week) presented a stable prevalence trend for the total population in the complete and the first analysed period, but a significant decrease in the second half (67·5 % to 59·5 %) among both genders, all age groups and educational levels (except for ≥12 years). The higher magnitude of regular consumption of beans will occur up to the year of 2025 for the total population (46·9 %), when it will be less frequent in the week., Conclusion: Reductions in the weekly consumption of beans may represent the weakness of a traditional food culture in a globalised food system. By 2025, regular consumption of beans will cease to be the predominant habit in the country.

The study aimed to analyze the time trend in the consumption of fruits and vegetables among adults in Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District from 2008 to 2016. This was a time series study with data from the VIGITEL survey from 2008 to 2016 (n = 463,817). The study analyzed the prevalence of regular consumption (≥ 5 days/week) and recommended consumption (≥ 5 times/day) of fruits and vegetables, for each of the years, for the complete set of the evaluated population and according to sex, age group, schooling, and location. Presence of linear trend (increase or decrease) in the indicators' variation was analyzed by Prais-Winsten regression. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in prevalence of regular consumption (from 33 to 35.2%, an increase of 1.86%/year) and recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables (from 20 to 24.4%, an increase of 3.32%/year). A similar trend was identified in the percentage of the population meeting the recommended consumption in most of the population strata, with the highest increase in men (4%/year vs. 3.05%/year for women), young adults (3.97%/year in the 18-24-year group vs. 2.30%/year in the 55-64-year group), those with low schooling (2.97%/year for 0 to 8 years of schooling vs. 2.76%/year for 12 years or more), and less developed regions of Brazil (5.02%/year in the North vs. 2.6%/year in the Southeast). There was an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially among groups with lower levels of consumption at the start of the study period. However, three out of four individuals still consumed fewer fruits and vegetables than recommended.

Objective: To analyse trends in sweetened beverages consumption among adults in Brazil between 2007 and 2016., Design: A time-series analysis, with data from the Surveillance System of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL). The prevalence of regular consumption (≥5 d/week), the average daily consumption (millilitres) and the prevalence of non-consumption of these beverages were analysed. The temporal variations of the indicators were calculated by linear regression. The analyses were performed for the complete set of the evaluated population and stratified by sociodemographic characteristics., Setting: Brazilian capitals and Federal District., Subjects: Brazilian adults aged ≥18 years (n 519 641)., Results: There was a reduction in both regular and average daily consumption of sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages (-1·28 percentage points (pp)/year, P=0·001 and -9·63 ml/year, P=0·001, respectively). The same result regarding regular consumption was found when only sugar-sweetened beverages were analysed (-1·11 pp/year, P=0·011). Similar trends were identified in the stratified analyses, with a greater magnitude of reduction among males, young adults, those with higher schooling and residents of more developed regions. Coincidentally, there was an increase in the prevalence of adults who did not consume sweetened beverages (1·54 pp/year, P=0·005)., Conclusions: The consumption of sweetened beverages decreased during the period. However, a significant portion of the population still referred a daily consumption of these beverages.

Introduction: Inadequate dietary patterns in childhood and adolescence are a major risk factor for the early onset of obesity and other chronic diseases., Objectives: To identify and to analyze dietary patterns among Brazilian adolescents., Methods: Data from the Brazilian National School Health Survey (PeNSE) of 2015 were used (n = 10,926 adolescents). The identification and analyses of dietary patterns were calculated using principal component analysis and linear regression, respectively., Results: Two dietary patterns were identified. The first one was characterized by the presence of markers of unhealthy eating, and the second one by markers of healthy eating. The adherence to the unhealthy pattern was positively associated with female adolescents, which mothers had completed, at least, the elementary school, residents in developed regions and urban areas, as well as those students who usually chose to skip breakfast, to not have meals with their parents/guardians, and who usually had meals while watching TV/studying, and at fast food restaurants., Discussion: Analyses of the consumption of isolated food groups, which do not consider the diet in all its complexity, have been insufficient in explaining the main outcomes of the public health nutrition area., Conclusion: Our findings contributed to the identification of the most vulnerable population groups to unhealthy dietary patterns and to the understanding of the coexistence of different food habit determinants among adolescents.

Objective: To analyse the association between food store type and the consumption of ultra-processed products in Brazil., Design: Data from the 2008-2009 Household Budget Survey involving a probabilistic sample of 55 970 Brazilian households. Food stores were grouped into nine categories. Foods and drinks were grouped according to characteristics of food processing. The contribution of each food store type to the total energy acquired from each food processing group, and according to quintiles of consumption of ultra-processed products, was estimated. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify a pattern of food store usage. Linear regression models were performed to estimate the relationship between the purchase pattern and the consumption of ultra-processed products., Results: In line with their larger market share, supermarkets accounted for 59 % of total energy and participated most in acquisition for three food groups, with emphasis on ultra-processed products (60·4 % of energy). The participation of supermarkets in total purchase tended to increase in populations with higher consumption of ultra-processed products, while the participation of small markets and small producers tended to decrease. The purchase pattern characterized by use of traditional retail (street fairs and vendors, small markets, small farmers, butcheries) was associated with a smaller consumption of ultra-processed products., Conclusions: Food policies and interventions aiming to reduce the consumption of ultra-processed products should consider the influence of supermarkets on the consumption of these products. A purchase pattern based on traditional retail constitutes an important tool for promoting healthy eating in Brazil.

This study aims to describe the prices of food groups consumed in Brazil considering the nature, extent, and purpose of their processing. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey for 2008-2009. The mean prices of the groups (natural, cooking ingredients, processed, and ultra-processed) and their respective food subgroups were estimated for Brazil according to income, region, and area. Natural products and cooking ingredients showed lower prices per calorie when compared to the other groups, suggesting an economic advantage to preparing meals at home when compared to replacing them with ultra-processed foods. Families with the highest income paid the highest prices for their food, while families in the Northeast and North regions and rural areas paid the lowest. While fresh foods (meat, milk, fruit, and vegetables) tend to cost more than ultra-processed foods, dry grains (like rice and beans) are a more economical alternative for adopting healthy eating practices.

Objective: To present and discuss the dietary guidelines issued by the Brazilian government in 2014., Design: The present paper describes the aims of the guidelines, their shaping principles and the approach used in the development of recommendations. The main recommendations are outlined, their significance for the cultural, socio-economic and environmental aspects of sustainability is discussed, and their application to other countries is considered., Setting: Brazil in the twenty-first century., Subjects: All people in Brazil, now and in future., Results: The food- and meal-based Brazilian Dietary Guidelines address dietary patterns as a whole and so are different from nutrient-based guidelines, even those with some recommendations on specific foods or food groups. The guidelines are based on explicit principles. They take mental and emotional well-being into account, as well as physical health and disease prevention. They identify diet as having cultural, socio-economic and environmental as well as biological and behavioural dimensions. They emphasize the benefits of dietary patterns based on a variety of natural or minimally processed foods, mostly plants, and freshly prepared meals eaten in company, for health, well-being and all relevant aspects of sustainability, as well as the multiple negative effects of ready-to-consume ultra-processed food and drink products., Conclusions: The guidelines' recommendations are designed to be sustainable personally, culturally, socially, economically and environmentally, and thus fit to face this century. They are for foods, meals and dietary patterns of types that are already established in Brazil, which can be adapted to suit the climate, terrain and customs of all countries.

The objective was to identify the cost of meeting the Brazilian National Dietary Guidelines and analyze the impact on family budget. Data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey for 2008 were used. Food purchases were recorded for seven days in 55,970 households. A subset of low-income families (≤ BRL 415.00 per capita/month and ≤ US$ 1.00 per capita/day) was used for the analysis. We estimated per capita calorie availability, total food expenditures, and food prices aggregated in 8 food groups based on the Brazilian Guidelines. Each food group's share in total calories was estimated and compared to the recommendations. Actual purchases exceeded the recommendations for beans, oils/fats, sweets, and meat/eggs, and fell short for fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains. Meeting the recommendations would increase food expenditures by 58% among individuals with per capita income ≤ US$ 1.00/day and by 39% for those with per capita income ≤ BRL 415.00. Adoption of the recommendations would require 145% of total income. Meeting current recommendations would demand an increase in income or a policy to reduce food prices.

The objective of this study was to estimate the household availability of fibers in Brazil and to identify the dietary sources of this nutrient. Data from the 2008-2009 Household Budget Survey were used to estimate national household availability and density of fibers and also according to stratifications defined by income level, five regions and area (rural or urban). The contribution of the different food groups, classified by the nature, extent and purpose of processing, to total fibers available in Brazilian households was also determined. The mean density of per capita fibers was 7.6 g/1000 kcal. Higher availability and density of fibers was observed in households situated in rural areas and among low-income families. The main dietary sources of fiber were beans, bread, rice, fruit, vegetables and manioc flour. Fiber intake was found to be insufficient. Therefore, actions promoting a healthy diet are needed to improve the dietary quality of the Brazilian population., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate consumption of ultra-processed products in Canada and to assess their association with dietary quality., Design: Application of a classification of foodstuffs based on the nature, extent and purpose of food processing to data from a national household food budget survey. Foods are classified as unprocessed/minimally processed foods (Group 1), processed culinary ingredients (Group 2) or ultra-processed products (Group 3)., Setting: All provinces and territories of Canada, 2001., Subjects: Households (n 5643)., Results: Food purchases provided a mean per capita energy availability of 8908 (se 81) kJ/d (2129 (se 19) kcal/d). Over 61·7 % of dietary energy came from ultra-processed products (Group 3), 25·6 % from Group 1 and 12·7 % from Group 2. The overall diet exceeded WHO upper limits for fat, saturated fat, free sugars and Na density, with less fibre than recommended. It also exceeded the average energy density target of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research. Group 3 products taken together are more fatty, sugary, salty and energy-dense than a combination of Group 1 and Group 2 items. Only the 20 % lowest consumers of ultra-processed products (who consumed 33·2 % of energy from these products) were anywhere near reaching all nutrient goals for the prevention of obesity and chronic non-communicable diseases., Conclusions: The 2001 Canadian diet was dominated by ultra-processed products. As a group, these products are unhealthy. The present analysis indicates that any substantial improvement of the diet would involve much lower consumption of ultra-processed products and much higher consumption of meals and dishes prepared from minimally processed foods and processed culinary ingredients.

This paper tests the hypothesis that one important factor determining household availability of ready-to-consume products is their cost relative to the rest of the diet. National food expenditure surveys in the UK (2008) and Brazil (2008-09) were used. Purchased food quantities were converted into dietary energy (calories) and classified into three groups: (1) foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed; (2) processed culinary ingredients; and (3) ready-to-consume products, either processed or ultra-processed. The contribution of these groups to diets in each country was calculated as a percentage of total energy. Relative cost of ready-to-consume products in each country was calculated by dividing their cost by the cost of the rest of the diet (foods plus culinary ingredients). Linear regression analysis was used to test the association between the UK to Brazil ratios of the caloric share of different ready-to-consume products, and of the relative cost of these products. The caloric share of ready-to-consume products in the UK (63.4%) was well over double that of Brazil (27.7%), whereas their cost relative to the rest of the diet was 43% lower. The lower the relative cost of ready-to-consume products in the UK (compared with Brazil), the higher their relative consumption (R(2)=0.38, p<0.01).

Objective: To describe the regional and socioeconomic distribution of household food availability in Brazil., Methods: Data from the 2008-2009 Household Budget Survey on food and beverage acquisition for household consumption, conducted by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), were analyzed. The amounts of foods, recorded during seven consecutive days in the 55,970 sample households, were converted into calories and nutrients. Food quality indicators were constructed and analyzed according to the regional and socioeconomic strata of the Brazilian population., Results: The amount of energy from protein was adequate in all regional and socioeconomic strata. On the other hand, an excess of free sugars and fats was observed in all regions of the country, especially in the Southern and Southeastern regions. The proportion of saturated fats was high in urban areas and consistent with the greater contribution of animal-derived products. Limited availability of fruits and vegetables was found in all regions. An increase in the fat content and reduction in carbohydrate content of the diet were observed with the increase in income., Conclusions: The negative characteristics of the Brazilian diet observed at the end of the first decade of the 21st century indicate the need to prioritize public policies for the promotion of healthy eating.

Objectives: We investigated whether taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) would improve the diets of households in Brazil., Methods: We used household food consumption data that the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics collected in 2002-2003 from a nationally representative sample of 48,470 Brazilian households. The consumption of SSBs is expressed as the total SSB calories consumed and as the SSB percentage of the total calories purchased. We investigated price elasticity with regression models, controlling for demographic variables, income, and prices of all other foods and drinks., Results: Increases in the price of SSBs led to reductions in consumption. A 1.00% increase in the price of SSBs led to a 0.85% reduction of SSB calories consumed (1.03% reduction for the poor and 0.63% for the nonpoor). Increased income had a positive effect on SSB consumption, but the effect was less than half the size of the price elasticity (0.41% increase in SSB calories consumed for every 1.00% increase in income)., Conclusions: High SSB price elasticity in Brazil indicates that a tax on purchased weight or volume would lead to reductions in SSB consumption.

Objective: To assess time trends in the contribution of processed foods to food purchases made by Brazilian households and to explore the potential impact on the overall quality of the diet., Design: Application of a new classification of foodstuffs based on extent and purpose of food processing to data collected by comparable probabilistic household budget surveys. The classification assigns foodstuffs to the following groups: unprocessed/minimally processed foods (Group 1); processed culinary ingredients (Group 2); or ultra-processed ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat food products (Group 3)., Setting: Eleven metropolitan areas of Brazil., Subjects: Households; n 13,611 in 1987-8, n 16,014 in 1995-5 and n 13,848 in 2002-3., Results: Over the last three decades, the household consumption of Group 1 and Group 2 foods has been steadily replaced by consumption of Group 3 ultra-processed food products, both overall and in lower- and upper-income groups. In the 2002-3 survey, Group 3 items represented more than one-quarter of total energy (more than one-third for higher-income households). The overall nutrient profile of Group 3 items, compared with that of Group 1 and Group 2 items, revealed more added sugar, more saturated fat, more sodium, less fibre and much higher energy density., Conclusions: The high energy density and the unfavourable nutrition profiling of Group 3 food products, and also their potential harmful effects on eating and drinking behaviours, indicate that governments and health authorities should use all possible methods, including legislation and statutory regulation, to halt and reverse the replacement of minimally processed foods and processed culinary ingredients by ultra-processed food products.

Information on fruits and vegetables consumption in Brazil in the three levels of dietary data was analyzed and compared. Data about national supply came from Food Balance Sheets compiled by the FAO; household availability information was obtained from the Brazilian National Household Budget Survey (HBS); and actual intake information came from a large individual dietary intake survey that was representative of the adult population of São Paulo city. All sources of information were collected between 2002 and 2003. A subset of the HBS, representative of São Paulo city, was used in our analysis in order to improve the quality of the comparison with actual intake data. The ratio of national supply to household availability of fruits and vegetables was 2.6 while the ratio of national supply to actual intake was 4.0. The discrepancy ratio in the comparison between household availability and actual intake was smaller, 1.6. While the use of supply and availability data has advantages, as lower cost, must be taken into account that these sources tend to overestimate actual intake of fruits and vegetables.

This paper describes a new food classification which assigns foodstuffs according to the extent and purpose of the industrial processing applied to them. Three main groups are defined: unprocessed or minimally processed foods (group 1), processed culinary and food industry ingredients (group 2), and ultra-processed food products (group 3). The use of this classification is illustrated by applying it to data collected in the Brazilian Household Budget Survey which was conducted in 2002/2003 through a probabilistic sample of 48,470 Brazilian households. The average daily food availability was 1,792 kcal/person being 42.5% from group 1 (mostly rice and beans and meat and milk), 37.5% from group 2 (mostly vegetable oils, sugar, and flours), and 20% from group 3 (mostly breads, biscuits, sweets, soft drinks, and sausages). The share of group 3 foods increased with income, and represented almost one third of all calories in higher income households. The impact of the replacement of group 1 foods and group 2 ingredients by group 3 products on the overall quality of the diet, eating patterns and health is discussed.

This study evaluated the impact of calories from sugar on the calorie share of other macronutrients in the Brazilian family diet. The study's estimates are based on data from the Household Budget Survey conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics from July 2002 to June 2003. Multiple linear regression models were used to study the impact of sugar calories on each of the macronutrients in household food acquisition, controlling for total energy content in food acquisition and socio-demographic variables. Each calorie from sugar purchases increases the share of calories from fat by 0.3 calories and decreases the share of calories from protein by 0.7 calories. Each calorie of sugar from processed foods increases the share from fat by 1.6 calories and the share from saturated fatty acids by 0.4 calories and decreases the share from non-sugar carbohydrates by 0.8 calories. The findings shed further light on the harmful role of sugar for human health.

Objective: To study the role of energy derived from sugar (both table sugar and sugar added to processed foods) in the total energy content of food purchases in Brazil., Design: Food purchase data were collected during a national household budget survey carried out between June 2002 and July 2003 on a probabilistic sample representative of all households in the country. The amount of food purchased in this 12-month period was transformed into energy and energy from sugar using food composition tables. Multiple linear regression models were used to study the association between amount of energy from sugar and total energy content of food purchases, controlling for sociodemographic variables and potential interactions between these variables and sugar purchases., Results: There was a positive and significant association between energy from sugar and total household energy purchases. A 1 kJ increase in sugar purchase corresponded to a 3.637 kJ increase in total energy. In the absence of expenditure on meals outside the home, i.e. when household food purchases tend to approximate actual food consumption by household members, sugar purchase of 1926.35 kJ/d (the 90th percentile of the distribution of sugar purchases in Brazil) was associated, depending on income strata, with total energy purchase over 40-60 % of the recommended daily value for energy intake in Brazil., Conclusions: The present results corroborate the recommendations of the WHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health regarding limiting the consumption of sugar.

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and validity of data on food and beverage intake obtained by means of a telephone-based surveillance system., Methods: Reproducibility and validity analyses were carried out in two random subsamples (n=112 and n=119, respectively) of the total sample (N=2,024) of adults (> or =18 years) studied by the system in 2005 in the municipality of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. Indicators evaluated included protective factors (daily or almost daily intake of fruit and vegetables) and risk factors (daily or almost daily intake of soft drinks, frequent intake of foods containing saturated animal fat, and abusive intake of alcoholic beverages) for the development of chronic diseases. Reproducibility was studied by comparing the results of the original telephonic interview with those of another interview carried out 7-15 days later. Validity was analyzed by comparing the results of the telephone interview with those of three 24-hour recalls (our gold-standard) carried out up to 5 days following the original interview., Results: The frequency of the studied indicators remained relatively constant between the first and second telephone interviews, with kappa coefficients ranging from 0.57 to 0.80, indicating good reproducibility for all indicators. In relation to the gold standard, there was a trend towards overestimating the frequency of intake of protective foods, but of foods associated with increased risk of chronic diseases. Sensitivity and specificity were high for indicators of consumption of risk-associated foods (close to 80%), and variable in the case of protective foods (42% to 80%)., Conclusions: The evaluation showed evidence of good reproducibility and adequate validity for most indicators employed in the system, which indicates that maintaining this system operational in coming years will provide a useful instrument for evaluating public policies for the promotion of a healthy diet and for control of non-communicable chronic diseases with a dietary component in Brazil.

Objective: To analyze the influence of income and food prices on household consumption of fruit and vegetables., Methods: Data from the 1998/99 Household Budget Survey were analyzed, which was conducted by the Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (Institute for Economic Research Foundation) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The influence of income and food price on the relative participation of fruit and vegetables in the total household calorie intake was studied using regression analysis to estimate elasticity coefficients., Results: There was an increase in participation of fruit and vegetables in total household calorie purchases along with the recorded decrease in prices, increase in family income, and increase in prices of other foods. A one percent decrease in the price of fruit and vegetables would lead to a 0.2% increase in the participation of these items in the total calorie content; a 1% increase in the price of other foods would increase fruit and vegetable participation by 0.07%; and a 1% increase in family income would increase participation by 0.04%. The effect of the prices of other foods was less intense in higher income groups, and in the other two scenarios we were unable to identify consistent income-associated patterns., Conclusions: A reduction in the price of fruit and vegetables, which can be achieved by means of public policies, could lead to an increase in fruit and vegetable intake in households in São Paulo and in other cities with similar scenarios.