Belgian ‘healthy chocolate’ gets EU seal of approval

The European Union has granted Belgian chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut the right to use the first ever health claim in the history of the cocoa and chocolate industry, reports Food.be. It took seven years of research in the company’s research & development centre on the Belgian production site in Wieze and a number of clinical trials in order to get the thumbs-up from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), eventually resulting in the approval of a health claim by the European  Commission for Barry Callebaut’s ACTICOA® cocoa powder and dark chocolate. The health claim relates to the health benefits of flavanols in chocolate and states that ACTICOA® cocoa powder and dark chocolate help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to a normal blood flow. Barry Callebaut now has the proprietary right to use the cocoa flavanols claim within the European Union.