Food Environment Surrounding Public Transportation Stops and Stations in a Brazilian Metropolis

Source abstract

Public transportation facilities are high-traffic urban spaces that may shape food access and dietary choices, yet their surrounding food environments remain understudied, particularly in socially vulnerable settings. This study characterized the food environment surrounding public transportation facilities in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We conducted an ecological study using georeferenced data from 47 bus stations, 47,003 bus stops, and 18 subway stations in 2019. Food retail establishments and public food and nutrition security facilities (PFNSFs) were mapped within 500-m buffers and analyzed according to the health vulnerability index. Ultraprocessed food retailers predominated across all transportation facilities, whereas outlets selling unprocessed or minimally processed foods were less common. PFNSFs were virtually absent around bus stations and bus stops, including in highly vulnerable areas. These findings highlight public transportation facilities as strategic settings for urban food policies aimed at expanding access to healthy foods and reducing food environment inequalities.