Convenience of opening hours of commercial food establishments: barrier or facilitator to healthy food?

The objective was to evaluate the opening hours of establishments selling in natura and mixed foods, located in areas with and without Food and Nutrition Public Establishments (FNPE). A cross-sectional study, carried out in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Average hours of operation were recorded, and compared between in natura and mixed food establishments (Student's t-test). The functioning of establishments was divided into status and compared between types of establishments (Chi-square). The average operation hours of the establishments were compared according to their location in areas with or without FNPE (Student's t-test). Mixed establishments were open, on average, longer hours than in natura food establishments (p<0.001). The number of mixed establishments open at extended hours (after 18 hours) was significantly higher than the number of in natura establishments (p<0.001), on weekdays (90.9% vs. 67.8%), Saturdays (84. 1% vs. 55.9%) and Sundays (40.9% vs. 3.4%). On weekdays operation of in natura food establishments was lower in areas with FNPE (p<0.05). Mixed establishments open longer hours and are more available during extended hours and on Sundays. Areas with FNPE had lower average opening hours for in natura food establishments.