Ultra-processed food consumption in Barbados: evidence from a nationally representative, cross-sectional study

Rachel M Harris; Angela M C Rose; Suzanne Soares-Wynter; Nigel Unwin

doi:10.1017/jns.2021.21

Ultra-processed food consumption in Barbados: evidence from a nationally representative, cross-sectional study

J Nutr Sci. 2021 Apr 22:10:e29. doi: 10.1017/jns.2021.21. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Rachel M Harris^{1

2}, Angela M C Rose^{1

3}, Suzanne Soares-Wynter⁴, Nigel Unwin^{1

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ The George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados.
² Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados.
³ Epidemiology Department, Epiconcept, Paris, France.
⁴ Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
⁵ MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
⁶ European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK.

Abstract

Our objective was to describe, for the first time in an English-speaking Caribbean country, the contribution of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to nutrients linked to non-communicable disease. Using a cross-sectional study design, dietary data were collected from two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Recorded food items were then classified according to their degree of processing by the NOVA system. The present study took place in Barbados (2012-13). A representative population-based sample of 364 adult Barbadians (161 males and 203 females) aged 25-64 years participated in the study. UPFs represented 40⋅5 % (838 kcal/d; 95 % CI 791, 885) of mean energy intake. Sugar-sweetened beverages made the largest contribution to energy within the UPF category. Younger persons (25-44 years) consumed a significantly higher proportion of calories from UPF (NOVA group 4) compared with older persons (45-64 years). The mean energy shares of UPF ranged from 22⋅0 to 58⋅9 % for those in the lowest tertile to highest tertile. Within each tertile, the energy contribution was significantly higher in the younger age group (25-44 years) compared with the older (45-64 years). One-quarter of persons consume ≥50 % of their daily calories from UPF, this being significantly higher in younger persons. The ultra-processed diet fraction contained about six times the mean of free sugars and about 0⋅8 times the dietary fibre of the non-ultra-processed fraction (NOVA groups 1-3). Targeted interventions to decrease the consumption of UPF especially in younger persons is thus of high priority to improve the diet quality of Barbadians.

Keywords: Barbados; CARICOM, Caribbean community and common market; CI, Confidence interval; CROSQ, CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality; DRs, Dietary recalls; Diet; HotN, Health of the Nation survey; NCDs, Non-communicable diseases; PAHO, Pan American Health Organization; SSBs, Sugar-sweetened beverages; Sugar-sweetened beverages; UPFs, ultra-processed foods; USDA, United States Department of Agriculture; Ultra-processed food; WHO, World Health Organization.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Barbados
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet*
Energy Intake
Fast Foods*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Noncommunicable Diseases / epidemiology
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages