Keeping an eye on changing consumer habits seeking a more balanced diet, a unit of Grupo Sabará presents healthy alternatives for sugar to stop being the villain of diets and instead be seen as an important source of energy and nutrients

Reflecting on eating habits has been one of the most prominent issues even before the pandemic. Published by Sebrae, a study by the research agency Euromonitor showed that 28% of Brazilians believe consuming nutritionally rich foods is very important, and 22% of the population opts to buy natural and preservative-free foods. Currently, Brazil ranks fourth worldwide in sales of healthy food and beverages, in a market that moves around US$ 35 billion annually.

“Concerned with immunity and a more disciplined lifestyle, people have started investing in organic products and foods rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid, and magnesium. Sugar, although often seen as a villain in healthy diets, contains important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, chlorine, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and B-complex vitamins when unrefined. Therefore, it should not be completely removed from diets but rather used consciously.

There are already products on the market that guarantee sweetness without compromising quality and health benefits. “Our sugars come from organic farming, free from pesticides harmful to health, and are offered in liquid form, which facilitates handling by industries and prevents caking during storage, ensuring greater product utilization during the manufacture of items that combine health and flavor, targeted at the B2C market,” explains Lilia Kawazoe, Commercial Manager at Concepta Ingredients, a business unit of Grupo Sabará that has a broad portfolio with various options for the food sector, including the Sugars Line.

In the Organic Liquid Sugars line (muscovado and demerara), the ingredients contain no chemical additives, artificial components, or pesticides. Muscovado sugar, for example, undergoes no refining process, thus preserving minerals and phytosterols derived from sugarcane. Demerara sugar is less refined than standard refined sugar, thereby retaining the nutrients from sugarcane. Other characteristics of these sugars deserve the industry’s attention when formulating final products, which are:

Organic Liquid Muscovado Sugar

• Has an intense and fruity flavor with a dark brown color;
• Contains natural minerals from cane: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron;
• Natural presence of polyphenols;
• Known as whole sugar, as it does not undergo refining.

Organic Liquid Demerara Sugar

• Light and delicate flavor with a golden color;
• Sugar derived from light refining, maintaining the high nutritional values of cane;
• The management of demerara sugar promotes a circular economy model: 100% of the by-products from the sugar and alcohol production process are used to fertilize the soil in the organic system.

“Concepta Ingredients was the first company to launch liquid muscovado and demerara sugars derived from organic farming. Our portfolio includes ingredients from Brazilian biodiversity and inputs with added technology developed with a focus on the food and beverage industries, which ultimately offer the best to consumers,” concludes Lilia.

About Concepta Ingredients

Concepta Ingredients is part of Grupo Sabará and focuses on the food, beverage, animal nutrition, and veterinary pharmaceutical industries. Based on innovation and research, the company offers natural and technological solutions that go far beyond the traditional line of raw materials. With its extensive portfolio, it is capable of meeting the most specific demands of the industries it serves.

About Grupo Sabará

Grupo Sabará, with over 60 years of history, is genuinely Brazilian and recognized for its capacity for innovation and adaptation. Through its various business segments, it operates throughout the national territory and distributes to more than 40 countries worldwide. It specializes in developing technologies, solutions, and high-performance raw materials aimed at the water treatment, cosmetics, animal nutrition and health markets, as well as the food and beverage industries.