Anales del I Congreso Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sensoriales y del Consumidor

Introduction: Nopal (Opuntia ficus-indica) has an excellent functional potential and is a widely consumed vegetable in some countries such as Mexico; however, in Brazil, it is considered a nontraditional food despite its extensive cultivation in the semi-arid region of the northeast of the country, where a substantial proportion of the population is food-insecure, of low socioeconomic background. Objective: Firstly, this study evaluated the perception of low-income and food-insecure Brazilian consumers with regard to nopal. Secondly, this study observed the role of the nutritionist in its insertion in the food culture of a semiarid community. Methodology: With the help of local leaders, 120 low-income and food-insecure Brazilian potential consumers participated in the study, all belonging to the Algodão de Jandaíra city, using a central location in the community to conduct the study. The hedonic test with 5, 7, 9 or even 10 categories, were applied to sensorially evaluate a nopal beverage. Pictorial smiley face scales were also used. Participants answered a questionnaire on their eating attitudes, through an interview with one instructor. As well, nutritional education workshops to encourage the consumption of nopal in this community were held. Results: The results showed that the nopal beverage was appreciated by the participants (82%). In addition, the use of pictorial smiley face scales was better accepted than the conventional hedonic tests, motivated by the low literacy levels of the respondents. The participants also consider the economic factor rather than the sensory and nutritional ones when choosing their food, as long as it is accessible and relieves hunger (91%). The workshops obtained very positive feedback, since the population actively participated in the proposed activities, familiarizing themselves with the use of nopal in their lives, including suggesting new recipe ideas using this cactus. Some families also started to produce products from nopal to sell. Conclusion: The nopal, widely found in the region, due to its good acceptance and high nutritional potential, can be used to combat food and nutritional insecurity in the community and, furthermore, as a source of income for the population, which highlights the social responsibility of the nutritionist in the community.