February 15/McLean, Va., and Zurick/PR Newswire Europe -- The unique and good-for-you cocoa flavanols -- the natural compounds found in the cocoa fruit linked to important circulatory and other health benefits -- will soon be easier to identify and obtain when making nutrition choices. Mars Incorporated and Barry Callebaut AG recently signed a cross-licensing and cooperation agreement that is expected to increase the availability and uniformity of cocoa flavanol-rich chocolate products worldwide. The agreement between these global chocolate leaders is seen as the beginning of a path leading to consistent standards for beneficial cocoa flavanol products.
Decades of research suggest cocoa flavanols can have a positive impact on circulatory health and related conditions, but manufacturers have struggled with consistency, reliable measurement methods and communication of the flavanol benefits and content of foods. Mars with its pioneering scientific know-how in flavanol analytics, preservation and health benefits is partnering with Barry Callebaut AG to progress toward creating a commonly used standard for measuring useful flavanols in foods, broadening acceptance and availability of flavanol-containing products with guaranteed flavanol content. Cocoa flavanol containing products can be a part of a healthy diet, but simply having a higher percent cacao, being a "darker" chocolate, or claiming antioxidants as the main benefit of cocoa, misses the point and demonstrates the need for a means to measure and indicate adequate levels of flavanols consistent with recent scientific studies.