Official name

Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population 2014 (Portuguese: Guia alimentar para a população brasileira 2014)

Publication year

Brazil published the first version of its dietary guidelines in 2006. A revised version was launched in 2014.

Products, resources and target audiences

Development process and stakeholder involvement

The Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population contain a full set of information and recommendations for all Brazilians. Their purpose is to promote the health and well-being of people, families, communities, and the whole Brazilian population, now and in future.

The guidelines have been developed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with the Center for Epidemiological Research in Nutrition and Health of the University of São Paulo (NUPENS/USP) with the support of the Brazilian Pan American Health Organization Office (PAHO/Brazil). These were elaborated in a participatory manner and in consultation with multiple sectors of the society. In the first stage, a series of regional workshops to elaborate and evaluate the first draft were held with experts from various sectors including health, education, social protection and agriculture, as well as researchers and representatives of civil society groups (leaders of professional councils and professional associations and members of public policy social control councils and consumer protection organizations). Following those meetings, a second draft of the guidelines was presented for public consultation in a website platform run by the Ministry of Health. The version of the new edition of the food guide was released on the official platform to public consultation on the Ministry of Health's website and became available to receive contributions during 3 months. 3,125 contributions of 436 individuals / institutions were received from all the sectors of Brazilian society.

In the second stage, the Ministry of Health and the NUPENS/USP finalized the guidelines, based on compiled contributions of public consultation from June to July 2014 by the technicians and researchers from CGAN/MoH, PAHO and NUPENS/USP.

The participatory work adopted throughout the preparation of the Guidelines was a key element to receive the suggestions of a number of people and institutions, and to address various actors and sectors of society interested in health promotion and the promotion of adequate and healthy eating for the Brazilian population.

More information about the process can be found here. 

Implementation

The hope is that the guidelines are used in people’s homes, in health facilities, in schools, and in all other places concerned with health and its promotion, such as community centres, social assistance reference centres, and headquarters of social movements.

There is no official implementation plan. 

Evaluation

There is no official evaluation plan at the moment. Officials are currently seeking for trustful experiences in monitoring and evaluating FBDGs.

Sustainability

One of the principles of the dietary guidelines for the Brazilian population is that adequate and healthy foods come from environmentally and socially sustainable food systems. The guidelines give priority to those whose production and distribution systems is socially and environmentally sustainable.

Food guide

Brazil does not use a food guide.

Recommendations

For the general population (Ten steps to a healthy diet)

• Make natural or minimally processed foods the basis of your diet.
• Use oils, fats, salt, and sugar in small amounts when seasoning and cooking natural or minimally processed foods and to create culinary preparations.
• Limit consumption of processed foods.
• Avoid consumption of ultra-processed foods.
• Eat regularly and carefully in appropriate environments and, whenever possible, in company.
• Shop in places that offer a variety of natural or minimally processed foods.
• Develop, exercise and share cooking skills.
• Plan your time to make food and eating important in your life.
• Out of home, prefer places that serve freshly made meals.
• Be wary of food advertising and marketing.

For children under two years of age

• Breastfeeding up to 2 years or more, only offering breast milk up to 6 months;
• Offer in nature or minimum foods processed, beyond maternal milk, from 6 months;
• Offer drinking water for children instead of juices, soft drinks and other sugar drinks;
• Offer massive food when child start eating other foods other than breast milk;
• Do not offer sugar or preparations or products which contain sugar to children until 2 years of age;
• Do not offer food ultraprocessed for the child;
• Cooking the same food for children and family;
• Make sure the child's feeding time is a time for positive experiences, learning and affect with the family;
• Pay attention to signs of hunger and saciety of the child and talk to her during meal;
• Caring for hygiene at all stages of child and family food;
• Also provide appropriate and healthy food to the children outside the home;
• Protect your child from food advertising.