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The health conditions afflicting the Yanonami community in the Brazilian Amazon such as malnutrition and chronic diseases are a result of the violation of their rights, unstable socio-economic conditions, and ongoing land disputes.
These circumstances have led to a social-environmental vulnerability within their population, placing their families, especially children, at particular risk of consuming ultra-processed foods.
More than 90 per cent of Yanomami aged six to 59 months exhibit short stature - called linear growth stunting - according to a study conducted by Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz, that offers groundbreaking insights into the dietary patterns of Yanomami indigenous youth.
Noodles
“Without a doubt, the Yanomami increased consumption of carbohydrates, sugar, salt, fat, food additives, and low-nutrient highly processed foods, contributes to nutritional and metabolic health concerns, specifically among their children,” explained Jesem Douglas Yamall Orellana, Fiocruz researcher of public health and epidemiologist at Fiocruz, and one of the authors of the study.
According to Orellana, the heightened consumption of ultra-processed foods among the Yanomami children not only significantly exacerbates their pre-existing health issues, but also gives rise to new ones.
Numerous research findings have established associations between ultra-processed foods and various health concerns, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, depression, multiple sclerosis (MS), cardiovascular diseases, and even mortality.
Fernando Zasso Pigatto, Brazil’s national health council president, issued a recommendation last month with the following note: “Considering that, in the scenario of poverty and hunger, the Yanomami people are hostage ‘to the supply of processed and ultra-processed products, in many cases expired, satisfying external interests, which worsens the scenario of infectious disease, malnutrition, deficiencies, nutritional and chronic diseases, such as the onset of diabetes, hypertension and obesity.”
The study group reported that the ultra-processed foods most commonly mentioned were cakes or cookies (25 per cent) and chocolate or chocolate powder (six per cent). Some also consume soft drinks, soda, candy, artificial juice and yogurt, canned foods, instant noodles, among other items.
Traditional
The minimally processed 'regional' foods consumed by the Yanomami consisted primarily of fruits (69 per cent), followed by corn, roots, or tubers (45 per cent), peach palm or palm heart (33 per cent), fish or crab (33 per cent), and couscous (32 per cent), according to the most frequently mentioned items.
The Fiocruz study was designed as a comprehensive survey for children residing in villages within three remote regions of the Brazilian Amazon, offering valuable data for this particularly under represented group.
The research group consisted of Yanomami children ranging from six months to five years old, and the investigation took place within three Yanomami communities located in the Brazilian Amazon: Maturaca, Ariabu, and Auaris.
The residents of Maturaca and Ariabu villages usually have more regular interactions with non-indigenous communities, which include military personnel, healthcare workers, illegal miners, loggers and criminal groups.
In contrast, the Ariabu population is relatively isolated, having limited contact with urban communities. Consequently, they enjoy greater territorial mobility, affording them the freedom to practice their traditional way of life.
In the far northern region of Brazil, the Yanomami population consists of approximately 27,000 individuals, spread across more than 300 villages within the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, in an area of 9,664,975 hectares.
Lack
The research findings indicated that the consumption of ultra-processed foods was significantly more prevalent in children from Maturaca (11.6 times higher) and Ariabu (9.2 times higher) in comparison to the children from Auaris.
This observation emphasises the importance of social contact with non-indigenous communities as a critical factor influencing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Another intriguing finding from the study was a 31 per cent reduction in ultra-processed food consumption among children whose mothers had shorter stature when compared to those whose mothers had a proper height.
Orellana explained: "Typically, the most economically disadvantaged mothers in the community can be identified as those with higher short stature rates, limited or no income, a background of enduring poverty, and a history of hardships that have stunted their growth into 'short adults.'
"These mothers lack the means to purchase and access ultra-processed foods, which, in turn, works to their advantage."
Semi-nomadic
The general occurrence of ultra-processed foods stood at 32 per cent, and this was linked to both the location of residence and the height of the mothers.
The Yanomami are traditionally categorised as hunter-gatherers, but the frequent invasions of illegal miners, loggers, and criminal organisations into their territory have a direct influence on the areas from which they gather their food, consequently affecting their dietary patterns.
Their families are compelled to interact with non-indigenous communities, resulting in their exposure to urban centers and the consumption of ultra-processed foods with poor nutritional content, high energy density, low fibre and micronutrient content, and an abundance of preservatives and industrial additives.
According to Orellana, what caught the interest of the group of scientists was the correlation between the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods by the Yanomami and a higher likelihood of them abandoning their agricultural practices.
“The Yanomami were historically known for their semi-nomadic lyfestyle, moving to new areas every two years to allow their previously occupied lands to regenerate. Nowadays, they are reluctant to leave their territory due to the invasion of illegal miners, loggers and drug traffickers, which has instilled fear in them about the possibility of violent attacks.”
Manipulated
She added: "The Yanomami traditionally relied on their understanding of sun and lunar cycles, as well as rain and drought patterns, to observe and manage soil and land dynamics. However, recent shifts in weather patterns, including extreme climate conditions, have disrupted their ability to accurately determine the optimal planting times for crops like corn and cassava.
“Furthermore, they now face concerns about fishing due to the contamination of their rivers by illegal mining activities, particularly the presence of mercury. These environmental challenges have led the Yanomami to increasingly rely on ultra-processed foods, as they find themselves struggling to maintain their traditional practices."
The developments observed among the Yanomami over the past two decades is similar to the experiences of nearly all indigenous populations in Brazil that have been in direct contact with non-indigenous communities for over 50 years.
“In the last nine months, we've observed specific actions undertaken by the federal government to address issues in areas previously identified as housing various invaders, and these actions have received considerable media coverage,” mentioned Orellana.
He detailed how certain national issues are manipulated and exploited by both the government and the media to further their interests: “Extensive operations were conducted in these areas (Yanonami territory), featuring visits by the president and ministers.
Disruptions
"Once these matters were no longer the focal point, attention shifted to a different region. These undertakings are often referred to as 'political spectacles' rather than genuinely impactful operations.”
Climate change and frequent invasions into the Yanomami land by illegal miners, loggers, and criminal groups are the primary factors that impact their diet, well-being, and traditional lifestyle, making them crucial determinants of their survival.
Orellana pointed out several potential measures that could effectively address some of the problems impacting the Yanonami community: "Immediate action is essential to establish control over the territory and impose severe and efficient penalties on intruders.
"Without these measures in place, the issues affecting the Yanomami, such as increased consumption of high-processed foods due to the disruptions in their traditional agricultural practices, which is detrimental to their well-being and cultural heritage, will persist without resolution."
This Author
Monica Piccinini is a freelance writer, focused on environmental, health and human rights issues.
This Image
Carsten ten Brink published his photograph Yanomami children on Flickr with a Creative Commons 2.0 licence. He said on the photo sharing website: "In 2022, I returned to Colombia. The main purpose of this trip was to explore the Amazonian rainforest areas near Leticia and then on the Rio Negro. In 2007 I was in the Leticia area on a volunteering project and the 2022 trip gave me the chance to see more of the area. As these are border areas, with the rivers travelled actually being the borders, I also visited / transitted through Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. I also spent time in Bogota and in the Boyaca region."
