Rice and beans lose space on the Brazilian table

The relationship of Brazilians with everyday food helps to explain profound changes in the country's way of life and eating habits. According to Sergio Cardoso, director of operations at Itaobi Representações, rice and beans have always been more than basic foods, functioning as a cultural symbol present at the table and in national identity. In the 1980s, when a song popularized the idea that two people could complete each other like rice and beans, annual rice consumption in Brazil was around 45 kilograms per inhabitant. Currently, this volume has fallen to about 30 kilograms per capita, evidencing a transformation in the dietary pattern of the population. The change is not linked to the product itself, but to the space it has come to occupy in meals. Over time, traditional preparations have been replaced by ready-made and ultra-processed foods, associated with practicality and speed. This movement has altered the composition of the Brazilian table and reduced the presence of ...