Consumer does not notice Easter egg warning stamps – 03/30/2024 – Equilíbrio

The brand and price of Easter eggs draw more attention than the “magnifying glass” that signals high sugar and saturated fat content in food products, according to consumers interviewed in markets in the capital of São Paulo last Tuesday (26).

Implemented on eggs last Easter, labeling became mandatory on items with more than 15 grams of added sugar per 100 grams of product and with more than 5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams of chocolate.

In a survey released in early March by Bain & Company, 56% of Brazilian consumers said they noticed the seal on ultra-processed products. The insertion of the magnifying glass, however, was not noticed by Adriano Cataldo. Looking for an egg for his nephew in a supermarket in Vila Guilherme, north of São Paulo, he left with nothing in his hands. This is because the child wanted a specific type of chocolate.

“I didn’t pay attention to the seal, I came after the egg that my nephew asked for,” said Cataldo, who is an artificial intelligence trainee at Vivo.

In the same supermarket, psychologist Rosimere Celestino was buying a pink Easter egg and said that, in addition to the child’s preferences, what most influences the purchase is the price. “If a girl wants a Barbie egg, the label doesn’t even matter, the only attention is the value,” she said.

According to Daniela Cierro, nutritionist and member of Asbran (Brazilian Nutrition Association), making magnifying glasses mandatory represents progress. “It is important to inform the consumer about ingredients that are in excess and are harmful.”

In another supermarket, in the Bela Vista neighborhood, central region of São Paulo, nurse Cleide Andrade observed some of the eggs displayed in the establishment’s Easter aisle and said that the main factor when choosing the product is children’s opinion. “We’re going more for what the child wants, really.”

In her opinion, the labels do not represent a real danger. “We only consume it at this time of year, besides, nowadays almost everything has this type of seal”, added Cleide.

Business analyst, Heidiel Carvalho, shopped at the same supermarket and shared the position. “We only eat a little, and only at this time of year, so for me it doesn’t hurt,” he said, who was looking for a specific egg to give as a gift.

Eating chocolate is a healthy practice, according to Daniela Cierro, as long as it is done consciously and without exaggeration. “The consumer needs to know if the cocoa concentration in that chocolate egg, bar or candy is above 70%, because then we are talking about real chocolate, including benefits,” said the nutritionist.

The professional remembers that conventional chocolate eggs, sold in supermarkets and candy stores, are usually filled with additives and preservatives. “It is a mixture made to attract the palate, with high caloric density, without cocoa and with harm to health depending on the quantity and frequency consumed”, she explained.

Warning labeling for processed food products with high sugar, salt and fat content, established by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), became mandatory in October 2022.

Despite progress with the magnifying glass, the nutritionist assesses that it is still necessary to incorporate an effective and easily accessible public policy. “We have some implemented, but the effectiveness is still low.”