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da Cruz GL, da Costa Louzada ML, da Silva JT, Maria Fellegger Garzillo J, Rauber F, Schmidt Rivera X, Reynolds C, Levy RB. The environmental impact of beef and ultra-processed food consumption in Brazil. Public Health Nutr 2024; 27:e34. [PMID: 38173129 PMCID: PMC10897569 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023002975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the independent and combined environmental impacts of the consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods in Brazil. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Brazil. PARTICIPANTS We used food purchases data from a national household budget survey conducted between July 2017 and July 2018, representing all Brazilian households. Food purchases were converted into energy, carbon footprints and water footprints. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the association between quintiles of beef and ultra-processed foods in total energy purchases and the environmental footprints, controlling for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS Both beef and ultra-processed foods had a significant linear association with carbon and water footprints (P < 0·01) in crude and adjusted models. In the crude upper quintile of beef purchases, carbon and water footprints were 47·7 % and 30·8 % higher, respectively, compared to the lower quintile. The upper quintile of ultra-processed food purchases showed carbon and water footprints 14·4 % and 22·8 % higher, respectively, than the lower quintile. The greatest reduction in environmental footprints would occur when both beef and ultra-processed food purchases are decreased, resulting in a 21·1 % reduction in carbon footprint and a 20·0 % reduction in water footprint. CONCLUSIONS Although the environmental footprints associated with beef consumption are higher, dietary patterns with lower consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods combined showed the greatest reduction in carbon and water footprints in Brazil. The high consumption of beef and ultra-processed foods is harmful to human health, as well as to the environment; thus, their reduction is beneficial to both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Lopes da Cruz
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Laura da Costa Louzada
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Tereza da Silva
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Josefa Maria Fellegger Garzillo
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Rauber
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ximena Schmidt Rivera
- Equitable Development and Resilience Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Science, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Christian Reynolds
- Centre for Food Policy, City University, London, UK
- Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Renata Bertazzi Levy
- Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health (NUPENS), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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