AVALIAÇÃO DE RÓTULOS DE CHOCOLATE EM BARRA QUANTO A COMPONENTES ALERGÊNICOS

Abstract

Food labeling is a fundamental tool for ensuring the right to information and consumer safety, especially regarding the declaration of allergens, as required by current legislation. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the labels of chocolate bars in relation to Brazilian legislation. A total of 40 chocolate labels were analyzed through photos taken with a smartphone in four supermarket chains and specialty stores of brands that sell these products in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, between September and October 2025. The chocolates were randomly selected from store displays, regardless of their type and/or size, with each brand represented by at least one and at most four chocolate varieties. Quantitative results were compared among brands, products, categories, and irregularities using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 to tabulate numbers and produce tables and histograms. All chocolate photos were stored on Google Drive. The results showed a high level of compliance, with 100% of product labels containing allergen declarations, and among these, 92.5% were fully compliant with legal requirements. These findings contrast with previous studies reported in the literature, which recorded significantly higher percentages of irregularities, indicating progress in the industry in recent years. However, some specific failures (7.5%) were still identified in the categories of diet/light/no added sugar chocolate bars and bonbons, in which one or two products in each category presented inadequacies. Both categories contained the same non-compliance issue related to the improper placement of allergen declarations, often located in covered areas or near structural folds of the packaging, compromising legibility. Such inconsistencies pose risks to allergic consumers and reinforce that the mere presence of information does not guarantee its effectiveness. The literature confirms that problems related to legibility and visibility remain among the most frequent issues in food labeling. It is concluded that, despite the progress observed, there is a need for continuous improvements in the design, arrangement, and clarity of mandatory information. Ensuring clear, prominent, and accessible labeling is essential to protect public health, strengthen consumer trust, and ensure full compliance with the legislation.