A Deep Dive Into The Sano Foods Mission From Founder Esperanza Cirilo

Mission #1. Fight the chronic illness epidemic in America by providing delicious anti-inflammatory snacks.

My life changed when I switched from the standard American diet (SAD) to an anti-inflammatory, whole foods diet (aka the AIP diet). My autoimmune symptoms improved, my skin problems went away, my energy increased, and I lost 35 lbs. The chronic health epidemic in our society stems from diseases marked by high levels of bodily inflammation, something I was suffering from at diagnosis. Our brand is committed to only selling and developing snacks that fit within the strictest anti-inflammatory diet there is, known as the Auto Immune Protocol, or AIP. The AIP diet has been used successfully for decades to help people suffering from inflammatory conditions find relief. It’s gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, seed free, potato free, grain free, and egg free (it’s a lot, I know).

I became aware of the chronic illness epidemic in America while doing research after my own diagnosis with an autoimmune condition. Between the rise of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, and autoimmune diseases, it was harrowing to discover that Americans are dying from preventable illnesses in numbers far greater than our peer countries or previous generations. While the food and pharmaceutical industries lobby intensely to convince our government and populace that food is not a factor in determining health outcomes, I disagree.

Sano is launching with cassava chips cooked in palm oil and seasoned with salt. No preservatives, sugars, or seed oils. We currently have several recipes for cereals, sweets, and other snacks in development.  

Mission # 2. Innovate with cassava as a tool for rural development with the farmers we source from. 5% of profits are reinvested into helping rural farmers develop their value chain and increase market access for their crop. 

Cassava entrepreneurship has shown me first hand the difficulties for rural farmers to process their crop and connect with international markets. Case studies in Brazil, Ghana, and Fiji have proven that sustainable farming, fair labor, and targeted financial support can produce more profitable supply chains for the long term. There is a gap in investment for Latin American cassava initiatives and Sano Foods hopes to help bridge that gap. To me, the best way to build a more secure world is to build resilient economic systems and financially empower as many people as possible. There is a harmful history of large NGO or IMF sponsored farming initiatives aimed at improving developing nations’ agricultural output. Often those efforts displaced native crop production, increased malnutrition, and harmed farming communities. Sano Foods rejects these past methods of rural development and is deeply rooted in prioritizing the autonomy and welfare of the small farmer and their community. 

Mission #3. Positively impact the world through our entire supply chain. From the farmers and communities we source from until our snacks end up in your hand, we aim to source responsibly and maintain high ingredient standards.

The more I learned about using food as medicine to heal myself, the more I learned about how important the soil and farming methods are to nutrient density and our overall health. Creating a ‘better for you’ snack meant I had to start from the literal ground up. 

I’ve searched the world looking for farmers and partners that share my vision. Many of the main anti-inflammatory foods Sano is developing products around (coconut, cassava, plantain) are not grown at scale in the USA. From Southeast Asia to Latin America, I’ve found farmers and manufacturers who share my vision and focus on regenerative farming practices and farmer welfare. I’m excited to share more about our partners in the coming weeks.