Title
Access to Healthy Wheat and Maize Processed Foods in Mexico City: Comparisons across Socioeconomic Areas and Store Types
Date Issued
01 March 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Fernández-Gaxiola A.C.
Cruz-Casarrubias C.
Pacheco-Miranda S.
Marrón-Ponce J.A.
Quezada A.D.
García-Guerra A.
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
Publisher(s)
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Abstract
The contributions of processed foods to the overweight and obesity problem in Latin America are well known. Engagement with the private and public sectors on possible solutions requires deeper insights into where and how these products are sold and the related implications for diet quality. This article characterizes the diversity of wheat and maize processed foods (WMPFs) available to consumers in Mexico City. Data were gathered across nine product categories at different points of sale (supermarkets, small grocery stores, convenience stores) in high and low socioeconomic (SE) areas. We assessed WMPFs based on Nutri-Score profile, price, and health and nutrition claims. Roughly 17.4% of the WMPFs were considered healthy, of which 62.2% were pastas and breads. Availability of healthy WMPFs was scarce in most stores, particularly in convenience stores Compared to supermarkets in the low SE area, those in the high SE area exhibited greater variety in access to healthy WMPFs across all product categories. In the low SE area, healthy WMPFs were priced 17–81% lower than unhealthy WMPFs across product categories. The extensive variety of unhealthy WMPFs, the limited stock of healthy WMPFs in most retail outlets, and the confusing health and nutrition claims on packaging make it difficult for urban consumers to find and choose healthy WMPFs.
Volume
14
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nutrición, Dietética Economía
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85125924824
PubMed ID
Source
Nutrients
ISSN of the container
20726643
Sponsor(s)
This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Programs on Wheat and Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). We thank PIM for funding the study and all donors who support the Wheat and A4NH programs through their contributions to the CGIAR Fund. Acknowledgments: We appreciate the enthusiastic participation of Miriam Pérez-Luna in data collection for this study.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus