Consumer Demand for Healthy Foods Drives Organic Products in Brazil
*Lilia Kawazoe
Winning over consumers is one of the major challenges for the food industry, especially at a time when society increasingly seeks the consumption of healthy, natural, organic, and vegan foods. According to research by Euromonitor, an international market research agency, Brazil already ranks 4th globally in healthy food consumption and generates R$ 35 billion annually. The study reveals that over the past five years, the healthy food and beverage sector has grown on average by 12.3% per year.
Within this segment, plant-based foods—i.e., those made from plant-derived raw materials—have stood out. These data highlight that this industry sector must stay attentive to consumption trends, invest in the development of healthy products, and adapt existing product lines.
Meeting this demand, Concepta Ingredients, a business unit of Grupo Sabará specializing in natural and technological solutions focused on the healthy, natural, and organic food industries, continues to invest in innovations for the sector. This year, during the 23rd Food Ingredients South America (FiSA), the company launched organic liquid demerara sugar, becoming the first Brazilian company to introduce this product to the market. Derived from organic farming, liquid demerara sugar can be used in a wide range of food industry products such as breads, cakes, sweets, grilled dishes, sauces, and chutneys. Additionally, the liquid form facilitates handling and prevents caking during storage, ensuring greater utilization.
Concepta also launched Organic Toasted Babaçu Oil, extracted by cold pressing the almonds of the babaçu coconut sourced from the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Rich in lauric and myristic acids, the oil has a mildly nutty flavor and is an excellent substitute for virgin coconut oil, as it contains similar nutritional properties and a more neutral taste for recipe preparation.
According to a 2019 survey by Organis (Sectoral Entity for Organics) on organic product consumption in Brazil, health concerns are the primary reason driving the population to seek organic products, leading the ranking with 84%, followed by product characteristics (30%), environmental concerns (9%), curiosity (9%), and lifestyle (7%). The survey also found that 53% of respondents said they are ‘very interested’ and 35% ‘interested’ in seeking information on how to maintain a healthier diet; together, these total 88%, indicating that many Brazilians have changed their food consumption patterns.
It is necessary to show the market that it is possible to make foods healthier and functional while also benefiting the environment, without compromising on flavor. To achieve this, continuous development of products rich in nutritional value and flavorful for direct consumption or as ingredients in various recipes is essential.
Undoubtedly, healthy eating is a trend here to stay, and this industry sector is closely monitoring this scenario and seeking ingredients that contribute to this significant transformation.
* Lilia Kawazoe is the commercial manager at Concepta Ingredients, a business unit of Grupo Sabará dedicated to developing natural and technological solutions focused on the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and veterinary pharmaceutical industries.
