Barry Callebaut has won the right to claim within the EU that “cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow”. This follows a positive scientific opinion issued by the European Food Safety Authority in July 2012.
The company claims it is the first to receive the rights in the cocoa and chocolate industry. The claim can now be used for cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark chocolate providing at least a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols.
Barry Callebaut was able to provide evidence that the daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols (provided by 2.5 g Acticoa cocoa powder or 10 g Acticoa dark chocolate) supports a healthy blood circulation by helping to maintain the elasticity of the blood vessels.
The company plans to use the claim for its Acticoa cocoa and chocolate products, meaning products that incorporate these will be able to use these claims on their packaging.
Peter Boone, chief innovation officer at Barry Callebaut, said: “Receiving the right to use a health claim on cocoa flavanols by the EU Commission is most valuable for us as it is a great reward for long years of extensive research. The health claim is opening up new market potential. Since we received the positive opinion from EFSA on our submitted health claim, we saw a lot of interest among our customers.”
The company claims it is the first to receive the rights in the cocoa and chocolate industry. The claim can now be used for cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark chocolate providing at least a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols.
Barry Callebaut was able to provide evidence that the daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols (provided by 2.5 g Acticoa cocoa powder or 10 g Acticoa dark chocolate) supports a healthy blood circulation by helping to maintain the elasticity of the blood vessels.
The company plans to use the claim for its Acticoa cocoa and chocolate products, meaning products that incorporate these will be able to use these claims on their packaging.
Peter Boone, chief innovation officer at Barry Callebaut, said: “Receiving the right to use a health claim on cocoa flavanols by the EU Commission is most valuable for us as it is a great reward for long years of extensive research. The health claim is opening up new market potential. Since we received the positive opinion from EFSA on our submitted health claim, we saw a lot of interest among our customers.”
