The European Commission has approved the extension of Barry Callebaut’s existing health claim on cocoa flavanols to cocoa extracts.
Following the positive Scientific Opinion issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in May 2014 on the health claim for cocoa flavanols in extracts, the European Commission also granted the company the right to use the health claim that ‘cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow’ for applications in capsules and tablets containing high-flavanol cocoa extract for a period of five years.
Approved in 2013, Barry Callebaut’s health claim was the first in the cocoa and chocolate industry.
The company was able to provide evidence that a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols (provided by 2.5 g Barry Callebaut Acticoa cocoa powder or 10 g Acticoa dark chocolate) contributes to normal blood circulation by helping to maintain the elasticity of the blood vessels.
The company was allowed to use this claim for cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark chocolate.
Today the European Commission approved the extension of Barry Callebaut’s existing health claim to cocoa extract products.
The company will source cocoa beans which are high in flavanols to third-party manufacturers of supplements.
These parties will then be allowed to apply the health claim for their products and promote it on the packaging of the end consumer products, making it easy for consumers to take the required daily amount of cocoa flavanols through one pill.
