Alimentos industrializados destinados ao público infantil na cidade de Cuité / PB: presença de corantes, quantidades ingeridas, toxicologia e riscos à saúde.

Abstract

Major changes have occurred in the dietary habits of the population, especially related to the replacement of homemade and natural foods by processed foods, and the latter are related to various health problems, mainly due to the high content of additives in their composition. Many processed foods have been produced especially for children, boosting your sales and marketing with leading the public to believe that it is a healthy food, which raises concerns about possible excesses in consumption of these inputs and, consequently, additives, among they dyes, and the health risks to which they are exposed. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the daily amount of dye ingested by preschoolers, based on frequency of food intake 24 hours and health risks associated with this intake. The use of dye and their types were verified through field research, with application of a 24-hour recall with socioeconomic and dietary data of 227 preschool children aged 4 and 7 years in public schools teaching of Cuité / PB city. From the evaluation of the data was related to the most consumed foods being chosen for analysis of thirteen food labeling. It was found that the use of the type of dye was according to Brazilian legislation, and as the excesses, compared with the average consumed by children and assuming they were used the maximum limits established by this legislation in food production. Artificial dyes Bordeuax S and twilight Yellow FCF exceeded the acceptable daily intake with the consumption of a food and only reached the limit with the consumption of various foods with dye in its constitution accordingly. Confrotando Socio-economic data with the above results, it was found that 72,7% of the caretakers of the children had only primary education and 66.5% of families had income below the minimum monthly wage, which may indicate the low degree of education and low income at the time the food choices of children. Several studies point out the risks associated with excessive consumption of dyes, sense these children are not so innocuous the effects caused by these, since the intake exceeded the RDA for some of the dyes identified in the samples, which is extremely important that studies are more complex performed by detecting values and health hazards, as well as greater oversight in food industries for the bandstand and not abusive use of these additives. We also emphasize the need to create public policies to inform the public about perceptions and risks associated with this intake and guidelines of what a healthy and balanced diet.