Ambiente alimentar em comunidades ribeirinhas de área remota no Amazonas

Abstract

The objective of this study is to survey the foods, according to the NOVA classification, sold in riverside communities of the Amazon. This is an observational, cross-sectional study, carried out in commercial establishments located in three different cities: Manaus, Coari, and Tefé, evaluating a total of 15 riverside communities. Active searches were conducted at the commercial locations, and the Food Environment Audit instrument based on NOVA was used to identify the types of food, in which foods are organized according to the NOVA classification: unprocessed or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods, and ultra-processed foods. In total, 62 establishments were subjected to the adapted AUDIT-NOVA assessment, conducted in 15 riverside communities. Local businesses predominated (85.5%), with only 4 (6.5%) bakery-type establishments, 2 (3.5%) snack bar/local market with bakery (3.5%), and 1 (1.6%) fruit and vegetable market. It was noted that most establishments sell ultra-processed foods, the majority when compared to the availability of processed foods, fresh foods, and culinary ingredients. Therefore, the results reflect the current food environment of these studied communities, where existing commercial establishments facilitate access to ultra-processed foods. This scenario reflects transitions in socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors and highlights the need for public policies based on the guidelines of the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population, which encourage the consumption of local and regional foods and value traditional culinary practices, while making it more difficult for communities to access ultra-processed foods.