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Este libro nace de un proyecto sobre migraciones y culturas alimentarias en Iberoamérica (incluyendo España y Portugal) iniciado en 2009 y ligado en su última fase a la Cátedra UNESCO de Alimentación, Cultura y Desarrollo de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Algunos de los textos publicados en este libro nacen directamente de este proyecto, mientras que algunos otros, de carácter claramente complementario, han sido invitados a participar y a dialogar en la misma obra. De este modo, el libro que aquí se inicia responde a distintas necesidades y objetivos. Por un lado, es una de las muy pocas obras en lengua castellana que se dedican específicamente al análisis de las culturas alimentarias en situación de migración, cubriendo así un hueco necesario en la bibliografía existente. Por otro lado, este libro intenta reunir en un mismo espacio y de manera dialogante los trabajos de distintos especialistas que se han dedicado al tema de la alimentación y las migraciones desde diferentes puntos de vista; trabajos que en muy pocas ocasiones han visto la posibilidad de situarse en un mismo contexto y en una situación que permita una revisión y una comparación conjuntas. Igualmente, a partir de esta situación, podemos articular también la detección de determinados ejes temáticos que aparecen vinculados a las distintas visiones de los diferentes investigadores, en distintos territorios y posiblemente con distintos intereses: permanencias y rupturas en los hábitos alimentarios, fronteras alimentarias, aprovisionamiento, etnicidad, nostalgia, restauración? Este libro analiza estos aspectos desde una perspectiva cultural y abierta.

How the visual culture of food, cookery, and consumption played a central role in the making of postrevolutionary Mexico. Postrevolutionary Mexico City was a site of anxious nation-building, as rampant modernization converged and clashed with the nation’s growing nostalgia for its pre-Columbian heritage. During this volatile period, food became a meaningful symbol for a Mexican citizenry seeking new modes of national participation. Culinary Palettes explores how the artistic invocation of food cultures became an arena in which to negotiate the political entanglements of postrevolutionary Mexico. Lesley Wolff casts a nuanced eye on the work of visual artists such as Tina Modotti, Carlos González, and Rufino Tamayo, who nurtured the symbolic and performative power of iconic foods such as pulque, mole poblano, and watermelon. Through analysis of a wide array of visual evidence, including paintings, architecture, vintage postcards, menus, and cookbooks, Culinary Palettes demonstrates how these artists positioned their work within a broad visual landscape that relied upon the power of Mexican foodways in the urban and national imagination. In the studios of modernists, Wolff argues, artistic production, foodways, and Indigeneity proved to be mutually constitutive—and at times weaponized—agents in articulating competing claims to a new nationhood.

Dietary diversity in early life can prevent all forms of malnutrition and can establish a healthier dietary pattern for later life. However, multicountry national estimates are lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of infants and young children (IYC) meeting the minimum dietary diversity (MMD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD). We calculated the proportion of IYC (6–23 mo of age) meeting the updated MDD, MMF, and MAD for 49 low- and middle-income countries. We calculated the proportion of IYC meeting the MDD by region, rural/urban residence, and wealth quintile. The proportion of stunting cases that would have been averted if 90% of the IYC met their MDD was estimated. The proportion of IYC meeting MDD, MMF, and MAD was very low. Only 4 of 49 countries had >50% of IYC meeting MDD. The lowest MDD was for the sub-Saharan African region (18%) and the highest was for the Latin America and Caribbean (54%) region. Stark inequalities exist between countries, rural/urban residence, and wealth quintiles. A significant proportion (>11 million) of stunting cases could have been averted if ≥90% of IYC had met the MDD. MDD proportions increased with higher gross national income purchasing power parity, maternal literacy, and food supply diversity (P < 0.05). Closing the gap in dietary inequalities between and within countries is urgently needed to prevent wider, long-term socioeconomic and health inequalities. Diet-quality targets should be set and monitored routinely to promote dietary diversity and prevent all forms of malnutrition. •Dietary diversity is low in most low- and middle-income countries.•Stark disparities in diet diversity exist by rural/urban residence and wealth.•Diet quality is associated with income, maternal literacy, and food supply diversity.•More than 11 million stunting cases can be averted with major improvements in diet diversity.

Background Nutrition-related health issues remain a significant public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where rapid transformations in food systems have contributed to increasing obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Government policies are key to shaping healthier food environments, but their implementation and evaluation vary widely across countries. This study aimed to identify national-level public policies that promote healthy food environments in the LAC region and to outline priority areas for research to strengthen their implementation, from the perspectives of researchers and advocates. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2024, combining a bibliographic review and an online survey. The review compiled national laws, regulations, and policy documents from multiple databases, official government websites, and reports from international organizations. A structured, country-adapted questionnaire was administered to members of the Community of Practice in Nutrition and Health in Latin America and the Caribbean (COLANSA). Participants were asked to revise the list of policies in place in their countries, as identified by the review, and prioritize up to five policies requiring further research. They were also asked to specify the types of studies needed. Results The review identified 130 relevant documents. Seventy-three participants from 17 countries completed the survey, most of whom were affiliated with academic or civil society institutions. According to the review, all countries had legislation related to ingredient and nutrient declaration in labels, food-based dietary guidelines, and at least a regulation that influences school food environments. Measures such as fiscal incentives for sustainable agriculture, subsidies for healthy foods, and mechanisms to prevent industry interference were less commonly in place. The restriction of food advertising to children and adolescents, the policies to reduce inequalities and protect vulnerable populations, and the promotion of healthy foods were the most frequently identified priorities for further research. Study types that were more frequently suggested included analyses of implementation barriers, industry interference, policy impact evaluation, and stakeholder mapping. Conclusions This study identified food environment policies across LAC and research needs. The respondents emphasized the need for research to assess policy implementation, monitor impact, and address barriers such as industry interference. Strengthening regional collaboration and applied research capacities may contribute to generating actionable evidence for more effective and equitable food policies in the region.

Background Few studies have characterised community food environments and their influence on dietary behaviours in Latin America. In particular, community food environment data do not exist for Chilean contexts. This study aims to characterise the community food environment across neighbourhoods in three major Chilean cities and explore associations between these food environments and fruit and vegetable consumption among adult residents. Methods We used a geospatial query tool to identify, georeference, and classify food establishments (FE, n  = 46,950) across 3 large Chilean cities (Santiago, Valparaíso, Concepción). Neighbourhood characteristics were derived from the 2017 Census ( n  = 2,442 neighbourhoods) while individual-level data came from the 2017 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud, n  = 1,275 adults). Lower dietary quality was proxied by non-daily consumption of fruits or vegetables (ND-FV, prevalence 17.3%). We used random intercept logistic regression models adjusting for survey participants age, gender, educational attainment, neighbourhood population density and social environment. Results The median density of FE was 41.36 per km 2 , increasing with neighbourhood population density and more favourable social environments. Ready-for-consumption FE and small food retail were the most prevalent types (68% and 11%, respectively). The adjusted odds of ND-FV consumption was approximately 20% higher with increases in the z-score of those FE types. No associations were found between other types of FE and ND-FV consumption. Conclusion Food establishments were unequally distributed across urban Chilean neighbourhoods. Overall, unhealthy outlets are predominant. Higher densities of small and ready-to-consume FE were associated with lower fruit and vegetable consumption. These findings underscore the need for targeted public policies aimed at promoting healthier food environments, reducing social inequalities in food access within Chilean cities, and improving dietary quality.

Background Latin America is distinguished by diverse regulatory frameworks and evolving dietary patterns, including the weakening of traditional diets and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Predominantly produced by transnational corporations, UPFs rely heavily on food additives to achieve desirable sensory properties (e.g., flavor, color), ensure food safety, and extend shelf life. ​Over the past decade, research has increasingly shown that higher consumption of UPFs is associated with poor health outcomes, and food additives have emerged as a potential mechanism underlying this association. However, few studies have systematically analyzed the presence of food additives in the food supply. This study aimed to assess the distribution and patterns of food additives in packaged foods from five Latin American countries. Methods Data were obtained from packaged foods and beverages sold in supermarkets in Brazil (2017; n  = 9,673), Mexico (2017; n  = 15,846), Chile (2018; n  = 13,913), Colombia (2018; n  = 8,282), and Ecuador (2019; n  = 2,083). We used the list of ingredients to search for food additives described in the Codex Alimentarius. We assessed the prevalence of specific food additives, categorized their functional classes, and applied exploratory factor analysis to identify patterns of food additive use, overall and in each country. Results Food additives were present in over 75% of the studied products, ranging from 76.1% in Colombia to 84.0% in Ecuador. Food categories with the highest prevalence of additives (> 90%) included confectionery, dairy products, bakery items, and meat products. Most products contained two or more additives (64.3%); nearly 10% contained ten or more. We observed consistent results on the most used additives (i.e., flavorings, citric acid, phosphates, and lecithin) and patterns of food additives used across countries, although differences were observed in the use of specific additives, particularly low-calorie sweeteners and colorings. Conclusion Food additives are widely used in the packaged food supply of Latin American countries, and variations in the use of specific food additives likely reflect differences in regulatory frameworks, industry practices, and consumer preferences across countries. Given the increasing concern about the potential health effects of food additives, there is an urgent need to strengthen monitoring efforts and further investigate population-level exposures and associated health outcomes.

Winner of the 2006 Andrés Bello Award for Memory and Ibero-American Thought In this evocatively written book, Germán Patiño Ossa presents the cultural universe and national identities of Colombia through the lens of traditional cuisine. Focusing on the Cauca Valley, a fertile area in southwestern Colombia where Spanish, Native American, and African communities converged over the centuries, Patiño Ossa studies the food of these communities and its place in the region's culture. Using Jorge Isaacs's nineteenth-century Romantic novel María as a realistic source for cultural practices among Colombia's slaveholding elite, Patiño Ossa examines cooking, kitchens, and the division of labor; flora and fauna; agriculture, hunting, and fishing; hospitality; slavery; and literature. Through the community of Afro-descendants who appear in Isaacs's novel, Patiño Ossa shows how this culinary culture, originating in the cookstoves used by female black slaves, resulted in the Creole fusions that characterize this geographical region of Latin America. Cooking and food, as Patiño Ossa eloquently demonstrates, are essential for us to understand the process of the formation of culture and the origins, evolution, and effects of transculturation. Innovative, engaging, and accompanied by an introductory preface by the author, this English-language edition of Patiño Ossa's prizewinning book is a model for food and cultural studies that will appeal to scholars, students, and the intellectually curious.

Background Restaurants, particularly independently-owned ones that serve immigrant communities, are important community institutions in the promotion of dietary health. Yet, these restaurants remain under-researched, preventing meaningful collaborations with the public health sector for healthier community food environments. This research aimed to examine levels of acceptability of healthy eating promotion strategies (HEPS) in independently-owned Latin American restaurants (LARs) and identify resource needs for implementing HEPS in LARs. Methods We completed semi-structured, online discussions with LAR owners and staff ( n  = 20), predominantly from New York City (NYC), to examine current engagement, acceptability, potential barriers, and resource needs for the implementation of HEPS. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed independently by two coders using Dedoose, applying sentiment weighting to denote levels of acceptability for identified HEPS (1 = low, 2 = medium/neutral, 3 = high). Content analysis was used to examine factors associated with HEPS levels of acceptability and resource needs, including the influence of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Results The most acceptable HEPS was menu highlights of healthier items (mean rating = 2.8), followed by promotion of healthier items (mean rating = 2.7), increasing healthy offerings (mean rating = 2.6), nutrition information on the menu (mean rating = 2.3), and reduced portions (mean rating = 1.7). Acceptability was associated with factors related to perceived demand, revenue, and logistical constraints. COVID-19 had a mixed influence on HEPS engagement and acceptability. Identified resource needs to engage in HEPS included nutrition knowledge, additional expertise (e.g., design, social media, culinary skills), and assistance with food suppliers and other restaurant operational logistics. Respondents also identified potential policy incentives. Conclusions LARs can positively influence eating behaviors but doing so requires balancing public health goals and business profitability. LARs also faced various constraints that require different levels of assistance and resources, underscoring the need for innovative engagement approaches, including incentives, to promote these changes.

To explore adolescents' views about the foods they consume and to identify their ideas about strategies to encourage healthier eating habits. Individual questionnaires based on open-ended questions and group discussions (6-8 participants) were used to address the objectives. Data were analysed using content analysis based on deductive-inductive coding. Montevideo and its metropolitan area (Uruguay, Latin America). Totally, 102 adolescents (aged between 11 and 15 years, 52 % female) recruited at two educational institutions. Adolescents reported frequently consuming ultra-processed products and fast food although they were perceived as bad for their health, whereas they reported an infrequent consumption of fruits and vegetables. Multifaceted strategies to promote healthy eating habits emerged from adolescents' accounts, including public awareness campaigns, nutrition education programmes, nutrition label standards and regulations, and changes in food availability and affordability. Results from the present work suggest that co-creation with adolescents may be an effective way to inform the development of strategies to promote healthier eating habits. The strategies suggested by adolescents were mainly focused on behaviour change communication, who emphasised the importance of social media and the involvement of celebrities and influencers. The need for educational and communication strategies to raise awareness of the social and environmental drivers of eating patterns among adolescents was identified.