Fish consumption has been gaining ground in Brazil, driven by changes in eating habits and the search for more balanced, nutritious and practical options for everyday life.
With increasingly dynamic routines, demand is growing for foods that combine convenience and healthfulness, such as ready-to-eat products or those that can be easily prepared in an air fryer or microwave.
At the same time, new generations reinforce the interest in more balanced diets, focusing on proteins of high biological value and ingredients that add nutritional quality.
That’s why fish stand out as a versatile and expanding alternative. Today, fish is already the third most consumed protein in the country, with a growing presence across different formats and applications in the food industry.
Mintel data indicate that 61% of Brazilians consume fish at least once a week, with 24% consuming it daily. In addition, 45% of consumers associate this protein with well-being and promoting longevity, reinforcing its functional appeal.
This growth opens the door to the development of increasingly differentiated products, in which ingredients for fish play a strategic role in building flavor, texture, and the overall sensory experience.
In response, the food industry is increasingly investing in solutions that expand application possibilities, helping create products that are more appealing, convenient, and aligned with consumer expectations.
Also read: 2026 food trends: what will drive innovation in the Food and Beverage Market
How is the fish market driving innovation in the food industry?
Fish have been establishing themselves as an increasingly important category within animal proteins, with highly valued consumer attributes such as high omega-3 content and lower sodium levels.
In addition, they are easy to prepare, with a distinctive flavor and characteristic lightness, meeting some of the main demands of the modern consumer when it comes to food.
According to data from Mintel, 4% of new fish product launches in Latin America and 22.3% of launches in Brazil already explicitly highlight Air Fryer compatibility on their packaging.
Between 2023 and 2025, about 16.8% of launches highlight ease of preparation and 4% emphasize speed—a direct reflection of what consumers are increasingly valuing.
This movement is also reflected in market indicators. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, global fish and seafood consumption is expected to reach around 21.8kg per capita per year by 2034.
What are the main challenges in formulating fish-based products?
Some challenges, however, represent a major impact on the development of fish-based products. From a control standpoint, we are talking about a category of foods that requires strict sanitary and temperature monitoring.
Another important point is that this category has a very distinctive flavor profile. It is a protein that requires, for example, ingredients that help enhance and balance its characteristic sensory profile, demanding special care in the development and balance of seasonings so that they highlight and complement the protein’s natural flavor, adding complexity without masking it.
With these challenges in mind, and to increasingly win over the modern consumer’s discerning palate, the industry trend is to bring greater sensory innovation to a product that, until now, has not typically shown much diversification. As a result, color, texture, and flavor become elements to be rethought and enhanced.
Also read: Flavors and colors: how they shape the sensory experience of food
How do specialized ingredients contribute to the development of fish-based products?
Fish products require condiments that enhance their lightness and freshness without overpowering the base protein’s flavor. For this reason, the market is developing ingredients that enhance the natural flavor of fish, exploring solutions that help ensure the convenience and authentic experience consumers are looking for.
These include ingredients such as condiments and additives that streamline the production process, address the sector’s key challenges, and preserve the protein’s juiciness.
How can R&D teams enhance the taste and sensory quality of fish products?
As we’ve seen, flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance work together to shape the sensory experience of this category. To fully win over consumers’ palates, it is essential to combine condiments, additives, and technological solutions to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.
There are ready-made solutions on the market that deliver this complete mix of capabilities, helping brands position themselves with authentic, personality-driven products.
These are solutions designed to enhance flavor and performance in every creation within this segment, enabling the fish processing industry to engage all the consumer’s senses.
How do our solutions support the sensory development of fish-based products?
The growth of the fish category brings new challenges for the industry, especially in developing products that balance flavor, texture, and industrial performance.
With this momentum, ingredients for fish products take on a strategic role, enabling the reproduction of desired sensory profiles and ensuring stability, consistency, and efficiency throughout the production process.
With a portfolio structured for different applications, we develop solutions that support R&D teams in creating products that are more consistent, adaptable, and aligned with market expectations. The following are the key areas that guide this development:
Condiments and innovation in flavor profiles
Flavor development in fish products is undergoing a clear evolution—from traditional profiles to more sophisticated and exploratory offerings.
In addition to well-established flavors such as spices, herbs, tomato, and smoked, there is growing space for combinations that expand the category’s culinary repertoire, such as citrus, tropical, Asian-inspired, and mildly sweet profiles.
Notes such as lemon, basil, and tomato enhance freshness and lightness, while profiles like moqueca, teriyaki, and bourbon bring complexity and connect with global culinary trends.
This diversity makes it possible to develop products aligned with both everyday consumption and more premium, differentiated offers.
Smoke flavors and the development of sensory complexity
Smoke flavors expand the possibilities for differentiation in fish products, allowing for everything from more subtle profiles to more intense, structured builds.
Using different woods and blends, it is possible to develop profiles with grilled, woody, phenolic, or mildly sweet notes that add depth to the flavor and reinforce the product’s identity.
This approach makes it possible to align the sensory profile with the desired positioning, whether more traditional, gourmet, or contemporary.
Sauces and the expansion of consumption occasions
Sauces act as a strategic element in expanding the consumption experience. In addition to complementing the flavor of fish products, they make it possible to create combinations that add contrast, freshness, or intensity, helping diversify the portfolio and increase perceived value.
Profiles that combine citrus, tropical, or Asian-inspired notes reinforce this approach, connecting products to trends in convenience and experimentation.
Additives and performance throughout the process
Beyond flavor, technological performance is essential in the fish category. Solutions such as flavor enhancers, stabilizers, protein-based blends, and color fixatives act directly on the texture, juiciness, appearance, and stability of the products.
These ingredients provide greater control throughout processing and storage, contributing to consistency, yield, and final product quality.
Also read: Smoke flavors: trends and application possibilities
Standing out in the market
DR Flavors & Ingredients is the ideal partner for developing products that combine flavor, convenience, and technology, contributing to the creation of differentiated solutions within the category.
With a complete portfolio and recognized excellence in developing solutions that meet both consumer demands and the needs of the food industry, we are ready to deliver the ideal product for your brand to win over consumers’ tastes and expectations.
If you are ready to promote differentiation and highlight your products aimed at the fish market, discover all the solutions present in our product portfolio and talk to our teams.
