Swiss chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut has announced that it has received a positive scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority(EFSA)that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on human blood flow.
According to the company,it was able to provide evidence that consumption of 200mg of cocoa flavanols(provided by 2.5g of high-flavanol cocoa powder or 10g of high-flavanol dark chocolate)positively influence blood circulation in the human body.
Barry Callebaut is the first company in the EU to obtain a positive scientific opinion on a health claim on cocoa flavanols.
Barry Callebaut CEO Juergen Steinemann said with the new health claim,Barry expects new market potential both for the company and its customers.
"The health claim is also a reward for our long years of extensive research in the benefits of cocoa flavanols on the human body,"Steinemann added.
Barry noted that since 2005,it has conducted more than 20 clinical trials evaluating various impacts of cocoa flavanols on the human body.For the studies,it used cocoa powder and chocolate products made through its own developed ACTICOA process which results in high-flavanol cocoa products.
If the EU Commission further approves the health claim,Barry Callebaut will have the right to use the cocoa flavanols claim for five years within EU countries.The company's customers using its high-flavanol cocoa products would be able to apply the claim on their products and packaging.
