Characteristics and spending on out-of-home eating in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of out-of-home eating and spending on such consumption. METHODS: A complex sample of 48,470 Brazilian households, selected from the 2002-2003 Household Budget Survey (HBS) was analyzed. Out-of-home eating was defined as the purchase of at least one type of food for consumption out of the home during seven days. Frequencies of out-of-home eating were estimated according to age, sex, level of education, monthly per capita household income, number of residents per household, Brazilian regions, situation of household (urban/rural) and capital/other city. A total of nine groups of foods were studied: alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, cookies, fruits, sweets, milk and dairy products, fast foods, sit-down meals and deep-fried snacks. RESULTS: Frequency of out-of-home eating was 35%, being higher in the Southeast region (38.8%) and lower in the North region (28.1%) of Brazil. Frequency was higher in individuals aged between 20 and 40 years (42%), males (39% vs. 31%), with higher income (52%) and educational levels (61%). Foods most frequently consumed out of the home were as follows: soft drinks (12%), sit-down meals (11.5%), sweets (9.5%), deep-fried snacks (9.2%) and fast foods (7.2%). Consumption of food groups increased linearly with income, except for fruits and cookies. Values of weekly mean spending were lower for cookies (R$ 1.79 or US$ 0.54) and sweets (R$ 2.02 or US$ 0.67) and higher for sit-down meals (R$ 21.56 or US$ 6.53). CONCLUSIONS: Out-of-home eating is frequent in all Brazilian regions. Public policies must incorporate this dimension when proposing healthy eating strategies.