Avaliação do nível de conhecimento e perfil de consumidores de produtos diet e light que frequentam dois supermercados em Campina Grande/ PB.

Abstract

The increase of not transmissible chronic diseases and greater need in having healthy eating habits, led to the need to produce specific foods for this conditions. Therewith, appear the diet and light foods. The diet foods have a significant reduction or exemption of some specific nutrients, namely: carbohydrate, fat, protein, and sodium. Generally, fulfill the needs of people that has specifics physiological and metabolic conditions. The light foods must have a 25% minimal reduction of any component or total calories in the portion, comparing with the traditional product. However, for this foods may present the benefits that are proposed, is required that consumers know how set them correctly and understand its purposes; reading and interpretation of food labels fundamental part of this process. Thereby, the study has the proposal of evaluating the level of knowledge and the profile of diet and light product consumers that frequent two supermarkets in Campina Grande/PB. This is a study of descriptive character, quantitative that was developed in two supermarkets. Was use a standardized questionnaire with 13 questions contemplating the consumer identification, anthropometric data, knowledge /consumption of diet and light products, reading and interpretation of food labels. With the data collected was identified that females, 25 to 34 years old group, complete secondary school, nutritional status of eutrophic and with an income of 3 to 5 minimum salaries, was the most prevalent variables. Altogether, the consumers do not know how to define diet and light foods, being the diet exemption or with small amounts of sugar, while the light ones exemption or reduced amounts of fat. We infer that greater education and income influence the level of knowledge of individuals only in relation to lights products.. There was a contradiction between claiming to know how define and conceptualizing it correctly. The individuals use diet and light foods by associating them as healthy and for weight loss. The television and internet were the most frequently used methods to obtain information on these foods. As for the labels, the majority of consumers who read understand. Despite all consumers reported knowing the importance of it, much never read or heard about the consumers Guidance Manual by ANVISA. Most consumers rely on labels and all claims to be importante.Lastly, considering that consumers of diet and light foods generally have specific needs and that the concepts are not well defined by the population, should think of strategies to improve knowledge about these products and avoid misuse.