Laboratory analysis of cakes for children and comparison with the nutritional information included in the label and their adequacy to the legislation

Abstract

The Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency settles the regulation to the nutritional characteristics labeling and on the mandatory article in all of the packed products by means of the Resolution nº 360. The asserted contents declared in the label should not exceed < 20 % or > 20 % of the actual value. This study evaluated the physic-chemical composition of cakes for children,and these data were compared with the nutritional information on the label and their adequacy to the Brazilian regulation was investigated. Cake samples of 13 different flavors and from three brands (A, B and C) were analyzed. Humidity, ashes and sodium were determined following the methods established at Adolfo Lutz Institute. The lipids, proteins and fibers determinations were performed following the Association of Official Analytical Chemists methodology. Carbohydrates contents was obtained by calculating the difference. Of the analyzed samples, none of them complied with the legislation in all of the nutrients. The brand B and the fiber and sodium nutrients were the mostly noncompliant findings. Concerning the fiber and sodium contents, they were usually smaller and greater, respectively, than those values reported in the labels.