Inequities in the urban food environment of a Brazilian city

• Published in: Food security Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 539 - 549
• Main Authors: Leite, Maria Alvim, de Assis, Maíra Macário, do Carmo, Ariene Silva, Nogueira, Mário Círio, Netto, Michele Pereira, Mendes, Larissa Loures
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Environment; Food; Food processing; Food Science; Life Sciences; Mathematical analysis; Original Paper; Plant Sciences; Processed foods; Public policy; Social Policy; Social Sciences; Thematic mapping; Brazil; Brazil; Urban food deserts; Vulnerability
• ISSN: 1876-4517; 1876-4525
• DOI: 10.1007/s12571-020-01116-w

Food environment refers to the physical, social, cultural, economic and political contexts in which people engage with food systems in order to acquire, prepare and consume food. In 2016, we investigated the food environment of districts in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to different socio-economic levels. We proposed a categorization of food establishments according to the NOVA food classification, devised thematic maps, tested the significance of food retailers’ agglomerations by univariate K function and detected district clusters using variables of interest. A total of 23 districts (19.1%) presented high or very high vulnerability. Establishments only or mainly selling ultra-processed foods presented higher frequencies (52.7%) in comparison to other categories throughout the city. The downtown district had the most of all types of establishments. Districts of greater vulnerability had fewer establishments. The environmental iniquities we have identified reinforce the need to implement public policies that promote healthy urban food environments.