Semáforo nutricional: percepciones en la compra y consumo de productos procesados y ultra procesados por los adolescentes de un colegio urbano y rural de la Ciudad de Cuenca, 2022 - 2023

Abstract

The nutritional traffic light graphic system is a mechanism that improves the understanding of nutrition labeling on processed and ultra-processed products, using colors: red, yellow, and green to classify the fat, sugar, and salt content of these products. This research evaluated the perception of the use of the nutritional traffic light with the purchase and consumption of processed and ultra-processed products by adolescents of urban and rural schools in Cuenca, 2022-2023, through a descriptive qualitative study. Adolescents in urban and rural areas indicated that the nutritional traffic light helps observe the content of processed and ultra-processed products. Both urban and rural adolescents were concerned about some components of the nutritional traffic light and were confused when giving their concepts about processed and ultra-processed products. The participants from the rural area indicated frequent use of this graphic system; however, adolescents from the urban area showed little interest on it. In relation to the influence on the consumption of processed and ultra-processed products, they commented that it has been of great help in improving their eating habits. Therefore, adolescents in rural areas have a higher degree of awareness of the use of nutritional traffic lights compared to those in urban areas