Evaluation of Nutritional Labeling and In Vitro Digestibility of Foods with Andean Grains in Peruvian Supermarkets.

This study evaluated the nutritional labeling compliance, protein content, and total in vitro digestibility of commercial prepackaged foods claiming to contain Andean grains (quinoa, amaranth, and cañihua) sold in Metropolitan Lima, Peru. Forty products across four categories (cookies, savory snacks, energy bars, and breakfast cereals) were analyzed according to the Peruvian Law No. 30021. Nutritional warnings (octagons) were omitted in 20% of the evaluated cookie brands and 11% of energy bars, despite exceeding the legal thresholds for critical nutrients. Furthermore, a strong dissociation between price and nutritional profile was observed for breakfast cereals and energy bars. Laboratory analysis of selected samples revealed critical discrepancies between declared and experimental protein contents, as most tested products overrepresented their actual protein content. Total in vitro digestibility varied significantly (59.30 to 97.39%) and was primarily driven by the food matrix and technological processing rather than the mere presence of Andean grains in the food matrix. Extrusion and baking enhance protein denaturation and enzymatic accessibility, yielding higher digestibility than less-processed whole-grain structures. These findings highlight the need for stricter sanitary surveillance and manufacturing controls to ensure transparent nutritional communication and protect consumer rights.