New lease of life for Benecol

Benecol, the Finnish functional food produced by Raisco and marketed by McNeil received a new lease of life recently after US medical authorities endorsed the use of plant stanol esters in foodstuffs such as margarine.

Sales of the much publicised Benecol spread have for many months been below market expectations although considerable research exists to show that the active ingredient in these products, plant stanols had a cholesterol lowering effect.

Prior to the recent US announcement McNeil were only allowed to claim Benecol "promoted healthy cholesterol" a statement which most consumers found vague and confusion. New packaging and labelling has been developed which includes the new allowable claims concerning a reduced risk of Coronary heart disease. The number of Americans reporting high cholesterol has risen from 52 million to 65 million within the last seven years.