Levantamento do nível de conhecimento dos consumidores sobre os alimentos funcionais no município de Ponta Grossa (PR)

Abstract

The feeding along the history has followed the human evolutive process, who sought more sustenance food that could provide energy for daily activities, and for a better balance in their quality of life. Searching for new options of food, many products were industrially modified to achieve better taste and appearance, these changes that were generated by adding ingredients with higher energy, causing the appearing of chronic diseases and health and welfare disorders. However some consumers currently have sought a healthier diet that helps in smooth functioning of the body by improving the quality of life, and this paper presents the profile and level of knowing about functional foods among consumers. In total, 200 questionnaires were administered and respondents were randomly selected among 15-75 years old population, of both genders, in the city of Ponta Grossa, who only 56 (28%) said that knew what is the functional food. Respondents with higher education level and complete high school education demonstrated greater knowledge regarding the allegations of the functional properties of food.As for thefunctional claims of different foods, a significant number of respondents (33%)were unable to determine the specific benefits of each food, and fermented milk and / or yogurt with probiotic bacteria were the most frequent, probably due to the wide appeal of the media in their disclosure. The main benefit of functional foods cited by respondents was the improvement of bowel function, followed by strengthening the immune system. Nutrition education is one of the pathways to health promotion, enabling the population to pass to reflect on your eating habits and becoming aware of the importance of nutrition to health, allowing a change and the return of traditional eating habits.