Brazilian Sugar in Domestic Retail: The Quality of Sugar Consumed in the State of Sao Paulo

Abstract

Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane and its derivatives in the world, and one of the largest consumers of sugarcane derivatives. Sugar places a position of great prominence in Brazilian feed, either by direct consumption or as a component of industrialized products, from increasing consumption in the country. Sugar samples taken from local market were analyzed as the quality of table sugar consumed in the state of Sao Paulo (Brazil). The analysis of the parameters and basic attributes of characterization of sugar was according to the methodology developed by ICUMSA (2005; 2011) and ICUMSA modified by Copersucar (2002). Samples of sugar from this region showed that medium-low quality. It can be observed in fundamental aspects such as purity and insoluble residues, which were below the standard. In addition, it should be noted the difficulty of obtaining information about the limit values for each attribute, by virtue of Legislation not be assertive to the product and, also, the scientific studies have not been unified to present the specifics for each type of sugar.