In letter, international scientists defend the Brazilian Food Guide and criticize proposed change of ministry | Science and health

The 2014 Guide is a set of dietary guidelines developed by another ministry, Health.

In a technical note published this month, the Ministry of Agriculture made several criticisms of the document. In this text, Agriculture requests that the mention of the group of ultra-processed foods be removed from the Guide.

The academics, who are from universities such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and Cambridge, say that the technical note from the Ministry of Agriculture does not have a valid reasoning.

The letter sent by foreigners says that the text, “evidently written without knowledge of scientific research on this subject, raises several unjustified criticisms of the Brazilian diet guidelines published by the Ministry of Health.”

Food Guide Review

The technical note of the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that, “when an official document of the Brazilian Government guides ‘Avoid ultra-processed foods’, it is generalizing something that is very diverse. When we use this misclassification, research shows that there are foods that are classified in this’ category ‘. ultra-processed’ and which are made industrially similar to homemade culinary preparations ”,

• Ultra-processed foods: the danger in small print
• Scientists Link Ultra-Processed Foods to Premature Deaths; know what they are

The folder indicates that the food classification system known as Nova, which determines what a processed food is, is unclear.

“The new classification used is confusing, inconsistent and makes it difficult to implement the appropriate guidelines promote an adequate and healthy diet for the Brazilian population ”.

In the note, agricultural technicians attack the way of classifying food: “Regarding the differentiation of ‘ultra-processed foods’ counting the number of ingredients (often five or more) seems somewhat comical”.

The document is signed by Luís Eduardo Rangel and Eduardo Mazzoleni, director and coordinator of the Department of Economic Analysis and Public Policies of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.

In a note to G1, The Ministry of Agriculture says that the technical note, which was disseminated on social media, was not actually sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and that they are “minutes” that suggest the revision of the Guide. “The matter is being discussed internally, in Sectorial Chambers of the Map,” said the folder.

International scientists now writing to the Ministry of Agriculture say the guide recommends healthy meals, consisting of fresh foods, prepared with a minimum of processed ingredients (such as salt, sugar, oils and fats),

“The guide recommends avoiding ultra-processed foods. These are defined precisely by the Nova classification. They include sweet drinks, packaged snacks and sweets, sweet breakfast cereals, reconstituted meat products, and ready-to-heat dishes. The less these items are consumed, the better. ”

Practical identification, not classification

The technical note from the Ministry of Agriculture calls for a revision of the Food Guide and “the strongest recommendation at this time is the immediate withdrawal of mentions of the Nova classification in the current food guide and of erroneous, prejudiced and pseudoscientific mentions about products. of animal origin”.

The group of 33 scientists says that the note ignores consultations with nutritionists and professionals from all Brazilian states and the food industry before approval by the Minister of Health.

The academics consider that the note of the Ministry of Agriculture says that it is funny to define ultra-processed foods by the amount of ingredients they contain, but that this is only a practical way to identify these products, and that the definition is precisely indicated in the guidelines.

“It is difficult to understand why the note [do Ministério da Agricultura] it does not mention the recent rapid growth in the consumption of ultra-processed foods throughout Brazil and in most countries of the world, nor the negative impact of these foods on health, ”the foreign scientists continue.

The ultra-processed, according to them, are related to a series of non-communicable diseases originated in the diet, they say.

The Food Guide: ‘Peel More’

Launched in November 2014 by the Ministry of Health, the Food Guide has a maximum minimum consumption of ultra-processed foods.

“Always prefer fresh or minimally processed foods and culinary preparations to ultra-processed ones. The golden rule is: peel more and unpack less ”, informs the text of the Food Guide 2014.

Ultra-processed foods are those made by the industry with the addition of fats, salt, sugar, preservatives and other substances that alter the food in nature. Examples include:

• soda
• Processed meat, such as hot dogs and hamburgers.
• Industrialized cookies
• Chips
• instant noodles

Fresh foods are those that come directly from plants or animals, which have not changed after leaving nature. Examples include:

• Vegetables and legumes
• Grain
• Fruits
• eggs
• Milk

The World Health Organization (WHO) began recommending that countries adopt dietary guidelines as a way to prevent diseases such as obesity and diabetes since the 1980s.

Both the FAO and the WHO recommend a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, as well as a reduced consumption of meat and foods rich in fats and sugars.