Benicaros® Wins Açaí de Ouro Award, Recognized as Innovative Functional Ingredient in Brazil

NutriLeads, a global leader in precision prebiotic ingredients, today announced that Benicaros® has been awarded the prestigious Açaí de Ouro Prize. This recognition was presented by the Nutri Ingredients Summit (NIS), one of Brazil’s premier events for the functional ingredients, food and beverage industries.

Benicaros® won in the “Isolated Functional & Healthy Ingredient” category, which honors ingredients that demonstrate a high level of scientific validation, innovation, and applicability in food, beverage and supplement product development. This achievement was supported by the strategic contribution of Kilyos Nutrition, NutriLeads’ partner in Brazil, which handled the registration and the technical defense that secured the award.

“The tradition of high quality and innovation that has always defined Kilyos’ work is once again honored through our partnership with NutriLeads and Benicaros® – an effective, integrative active ingredient that positively and consistently modulates the gut microbiota ecosystem and supports better immune responses,” said Dr. José Name, Director of Kilyos Nutrition. “Benicaros® offers both high efficacy and the flexibility of a natural, low-dose, and sensorially neutral product, making it a versatile solution for the Brazilian market.”

“The Açaí de Ouro Award highlights the growing importance of precision nutrition in product development,” said Jan Jongsma, NutriLeads Chief Executive Officer. “Benicaros® was developed to deliver targeted, clinically supported benefits at low doses—as little as 300 mg daily—in formats that are practical for formulators and convenient for consumers.”

Derived from upcycled carrot pomace, Benicaros® is rich in rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I), a uniquely structured dietary fiber shown to selectively modulate beneficial gut microbiota and train the immune system to respond faster, smarter and stronger. Its defined molecular composition enables more consistent and predictable effects, despite differences in gut microbiome compositions, compared to traditional prebiotics.

Benicaros® has been evaluated in preclinical and human clinical studies demonstrating its ability to increase beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacteria, enhance short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and support immune readiness through activation of innate immune cells. Additional research indicates benefits for gut barrier function, reinforcing its role in maintaining overall gut and immune health.

With a low daily serving size and strong formulation flexibility, Benicaros® can be incorporated into a wide range of functional food, beverage and dietary supplement applications. Its sustainable sourcing from upcycled carrot pomace also aligns with increasing industry focus on environmentally responsible ingredient solutions.

The recognition comes as global demand continues to grow for ingredients that offer clinically supported, multi-functional health benefits, particularly in the areas of gut and immune health.