Chocolate Brands Partner to Guarantee Cocoa Flavanol Content

Mars Inc. (McLean, VA) and Barry Callebaut AG (Zurich, Switzerland), a producer of cocoa and chocolate products, have partnered to promote flavanol-rich chocolate products with guaranteed flavanol levels.

The companies will cross-license their products to promote flavanol-rich chocolate products on a worldwide scale. This month, Barry Callebaut began displaying Mars...s Cocoapro 'bean in hand' logo (indicating a proprietary method of processing cocoa that preserves flavanol content) on its flavanol-rich Acticoa chocolate products.

'This agreement is an important step in making chocolate alternatives with clear flavanol levels available to a much broader audience, around the world,' said Hans P. Vriens, chief innovation officer at Barry Callebaut.

In its press statement, Mars Inc. stated, 'The agreement between these global chocolate leaders is seen as the beginning of a path leading to consistent standards for beneficial cocoa flavanol products.'

Flavanols are the natural antioxidant compounds in cocoa that deliver health benefits such as circulatory health. Last year, Mars launched its CirkuHealth flavanol-rich dietary supplement. For more information, read 'Mars and the Next Frontier," published in the November/December 2009 issue of Nutritional Outlook, by clicking here.

View Mars's press release here.