Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in the community food environment between 2010 and 2022 in all municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, and to evaluate the possible associated sociodemographic inequities. DESIGN: This ecological study was based on an analysis of the distribution and density of food retail establishments between 2010 and 2022 and their associations with the sociodemographic characteristics of the municipalities. Sociodemographic and food retail variables were extracted from secondary government databases. The establishments were classified according to the degree of processing of the foods they predominantly sold. Non-parametric tests and linear and Prais-Winsten regressions were used to analyse data. SETTING: State of RS, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: All 497 municipalities. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in overall food retail density (Coef.: -2·97; 95 % CI: -3·34, -2·61; P < 0·001). The greatest reduction occurred in establishments that sourced ultra-processed foods (Coef.: -3·34; 95 % CI: -3·65, -3·02; P < 0·001), which, despite the decrease, remained the most widely present. In 2022, the density of these establishments (median: 24·5; min/max: 4·4-124·8) was twice the density of establishments supplying fresh/minimally processed foods and culinary ingredients (median: 13·1; min/max: 0·0-95·8). Cities with greater social vulnerability had lower densities of establishments and greater reductions in the density of establishments over the evaluated period. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in food retail outlets disproportionately affected the most vulnerable municipalities and negatively impacted the availability of healthy foods. These findings reinforce the need for food and nutrition policies that promote equity in the food environment.