Sodium reduction target can attract investment in the food sector

The demand for alternatives to the use of sodium in the food industry should grow in the coming years, according to executives heard by the DCI. The movement can be stimulated by the goals of the Ministry of health to reduce the sodium content in foods. "The market for sodium in Brazil is still little explored, although the discussion has begun about five years ago," says the President for Latin America of Nutrionix, Jean Secondi.
He says that the company focused on solutions to reduce salt in the industry, are betting on demand for alternatives to meet the goals of the Government. "First, the industries have invested in removal of salt, now they are joining in a second phase, that is the reduction of sodium," he says. For the Executive, although there is no exact projection of how this market can move, the target set by the Government is the best parameter of the business potential in the industry.
The Government's goal is that by 2020 are removed about of 28 thousand tons of sodium from the market, according to the Brazilian Association of food industries (Abia). Since June of last year the company invests in the installation of a research lab in Brazil. Secondi explains that the company plans to develop specific products for each customer and outsource production.
He says that the Nutrionix wants to meet all the food chain, from manufacturers and industrial kitchens, to the final consumer.
The company expects to offer products that meet for a reduction of up to 20% in the sodium content of foods. After Brazil, the plan is to explore the potential market in other countries in Latin America that have substance reduction policies.
"The price is also an important part of our strategy and our goal is that the cost of sodium replacement for our clients in the industry represents a rise of less than 1% on the total cost of production", he explains.
In Bunge, six products of the portfolio of margarine were reformulated in 2013 to meet the goal of sodium reduction of Government. The company works in partnership with other companies in the sector and the Ministry of health to reducing sodium in processed foods.
According to its latest report of sustainability, Bunge also has goals to reduce sodium in food service lines and industries. In addition, the company invests to reduce the trans fat content of products and stresses the importance of the impact on the accession costs reduction measures.
"The increase of lines consisting of products with vegetable fats of low levels of trans fats is dependent upon the accession of these ingredients in a number of industries, especially small and medium-sized. That's because these companies are sensitive to any change in cost of raw material, and changes require investments in research and development ", underlines the Bunge in report.
Already the M white, owner of the marks, Adria and the Foundation, invested r $ 3.1 million in research, development and innovation, last year. According to the manufacturer, part of this sum was intended to decrease the sodium. The BRF, the amount of sodium also comes suffering reduction through investments in technology to develop ingredients.
"Already we have reduced the amount of salt in burgers, nuggets, in us meat in margarine, in embedded in the sausages, the lasagna and other ready meals," said BRF in statement released on its website.
Global trend
Earlier this month, Nestlé announced that it will cut the salt in some foods sold in the United States. The goal of the industry giant is to reduce by up to 10% the amount of salt in your snacks and frozen pizza until the end of the year. The action will also include the removal of flavoring. In all, the measures adopted must impact more than 250 products in the portfolio.
Final consumer
The Abia points out, however, that even though the industry initiative to reduce sodium, the final consumer is still responsible for most of the addition of the substance to food. "The industry is responsible for only 23.8% of the sodium consumed by Brazilians, against 76.2% that is added directly by consumers themselves in restaurants and culinary preparations", ponders the Association on its website.
To meet the demand of these consumers, the paranaense Sanibras released in March of that year a sodium-free salgante to replace the salt in the domestic consumption. "Since launching the product acceptance has been good, with consumers turning to look for the products at points of sale", reveals the company's marketing director, Glauco Lichoveski.
The Executive explained that the company chose to sell the first product on pharmacies, with a focus on consumers with hypertension. "By having high price when compared to traditional sea salt, our focus now is on who needs the product for health-related issues," he says. A package with 100 grams sells for about $ 26.
Lichoveski says that Sanibras is investing to reduce by 20% the price of the product in the next 12 months. At the same time, will increase the distribution to supermarkets with new packaging and studies provide the product for industries. Currently, the company sells an average of 50 thousand units per month.
"The goals and the Government's incentive for reducing the use and consumption of sodium has made people more prone to seek alternatives", recognizes him.