Perceptions of Non-sugar Sweeteners Among Parents of Children in Brazil

Objectives: New front-of-package nutritional labeling (FOPNL) requirements for products high in added sugar were implemented in Brazil in 2022. It is therefore likely that foods and beverages will be reformulated using non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) as replacements for added sugars to avoid sugar warning. This study examined perceptions of NSS among Brazilian parents of children and how they would like to have information about the presence of NSS on product packaging. Methods: Parents (n=40) of children 2-11 years old were recruited from São Paulo, Brazil. Recruitment took place at 5 public and private schools as well as early education centers. Parents completed a survey about their knowledge and perceptions of NSS. They also reported their assessments of 3 different labels designed to indicate in the front-of-package that a product contained NSS: 1) a rectangle with text, "contains sweeteners - not recommended for children," 2) a magnifying glass with text, "contain sweeteners", and 3). a phrase at the bottom of the package). Results: Overall, parents perceived that it would be helpful to have FOPNL information highlighting the presence of NNS. Of the three labels shown, the rectangular label was preferred by how many? Most parents indicated that this label would catch their attention (63.2%) and would discourage purchase of the product with the label (68.4%). In addition, 95% reported that this label was easy to understand, compared to 55.3% and 36.8% for the other two labels shown. Conclusions: A FOPNL information stating that NSS are not recommended for children could assist parents in identifying NSS and making informed product choices for their children. Funding Sources: This work was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. This work was also in part funded by a doctoral student fellowship (MFG) from the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.