Association between advertising patterns and ultra-processed food in small markets

This article aims to characterize the advertising appeals present in the food environment to market ultra-processed foods and to analyze the nutritional profile of these foods according to PAHO criteria and the presence of food additives. Cross-sectional study, with data audited in 20 small supermarkets in Sao Paulo. The INFORMAS protocol was used to classify the advertising messages. The foods were classified according to NOVA. The PAHO profile model was used to classify foods high in critical nutrients. Advertising patterns were identified by factor analysis. The association between patterns and food groups was investigated by linear regression. More than 95% of the ultraprocessed foods had at least 1 critical nutrient in excess. There was a positive association between the new brand, fun and advantageous pattern with snacks, ready-made products, dairy products and cookies; between the new brand and suggested use pattern with dairy products. The standardization of food advertising in small retail stores is associated with offering snacks, dairy products, ready-to-eat foods and cookies, products that exceed critical nutrients.