Conservative rhetoric against the regulation of the food environment in schools: the discussion of Bill n 4.198/2021 in the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro

• Published in: Saúde e sociedade 2024-01, Vol.33 (3)
• Main Authors: Freitas, Veronica Tavares de, Coutinho, Carolina de Oliveira, Leal, Fabíola, Barbosa, Raphael Barreto da Conceição, Honório, Olivia Souza, Oliveira, Ana Carolina Rocha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Childrens health; Dietary guidelines; Disease prevention; Food; Initiatives; Law; Obesity; Processed foods; Regulatory agencies; Schools; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0104-1290; 1984-0470
• DOI: 10.1590/s0104-12902024230448en

Abstract Considering the scientific evidence regarding the harmful effects on health from consuming ultra-processed foods, the regulation on food environments has been prioritized as a way of promoting adequate and healthy eating. In this context, Bill 4198/2021 was proposed in the Legislative assembly of Rio de Janeiro, to ban the sale of ultra-processed foods in the schools in the state. In the second voting session of the proposition conservative rhetoric was widely used by the opposing congressmen. In this essay, these positions were classified, finding common points between them, considering the analysis of the legislative process. In making this categorization, it was possible to identify three argumentative bases that were explored: the defense of freedom of trade; the right to a “family autonomy,” the primacy of the family in children’s education; and individual responsibility for obesity. These rhetorics have been analyzed together with their counterpoint, in the conclusions of the specialized literature. Beyond the plurality of ideas in the legislative debate, it was possible to identify how the discussion of Bill 4198/21 was permeated by the reproduction of disinformation and violence. In this way, the scrutiny of the conservative rhetoric used and the understanding of the context of this discussion are contributions proposed here to consolidate the repertoire of defense of the health of children and adolescents. Resumo Diante das evidências científicas acerca dos malefícios à saúde do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados, a regulação dos ambientes alimentares vem sendo priorizada como forma de promover uma alimentação adequada e saudável. Nesse contexto, foi proposto o Projeto de Lei 4198/2021 na Assembleia Legislativa do Rio de Janeiro, para proibir o comércio de ultraprocessados nas escolas do estado. Na segunda sessão em plenário da proposição, houve ampla utilização de retóricas conservadoras pelos deputados contrários. Neste presente ensaio foram classificados esses posicionamentos, encontrando-se pontos comuns entre eles, à luz da análise da tramitação legislativa. Ao realizar essa categorização, foi possível identificar três bases argumentativas exploradas: a defesa da liberdade de comércio; o direito à “pátria família”, de primazia da família na educação infantojuvenil; e a responsabilização individual da obesidade. Tais retóricas foram analisadas em conjunto com suas contraposições, presentes nas conclusões da literatura especializada