*By Lilia Kawazoe
According to a survey conducted by Proteste, the Brazilian Association for Consumer Protection, involving 2,406 Brazilians between the ages of 17 and 74, 80% of respondents recognize the need to change their eating habits. In addition, a study by Organis, the Brazilian Organic Promotion Association, found that 64% of respondents associate organic product consumption with health. Another 15% said they consume these products because the media promotes them as healthier foods, while 3% cited recommendations from doctors or nutritionists.
These findings show that, beyond taste, consumers are increasingly concerned about the healthfulness of the foods they eat. Even young people and teenagers are paying closer attention to their diets. As a result, one of the food industry’s greatest challenges is investing in healthier, more natural ingredients. Research is therefore increasingly important to developing innovative products that appeal to consumers’ tastes while positively contributing to their health.
The Organis study also found that environmental concerns are important to 18% of respondents and influence their food purchasing decisions. In this context, it is worth highlighting butters and oils made from fruits and seeds sourced from Brazilian biodiversity, including cupuaçu, licuri, and Brazil nuts. In addition to being sustainably sourced, these ingredients offer the benefits of being natural and organic.
The idea is to incorporate these ingredients into everyday recipes, such as breads, cakes, cookies, sauces, and mayonnaise, adding distinctive flavors while enhancing the nutritional value of foods.
All these trends point to a major transformation in the food industry, driven not only by changing consumer behavior but also by brands adapting to this new market landscape. The outcome will undoubtedly benefit everyone. After all, healthy and functional foods are becoming an increasingly important part of our diets.
*Lilia Kawazoe is Commercial Manager at Concepta Ingredients, a business unit of Sabará Group specializing in the development of natural and technology-driven solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and veterinary pharmaceutical industries.
