APPROVAL BY THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR BENECOL® INGREDIENT
Raisio plc, Press release 4 December 2008
APPROVAL BY THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF HEALTH FOR BENECOL® INGREDIENT
Raisio has obtained a New Resource Food approval for the cholesterol lowering
Benecol® ingredient, plant stanol ester, from the Ministry of Health of the
People's Republic of China to add the Benecol ingredient in foodstuffs marketed
in China. The approval is one of the first issued by the People's Republic of
China after implementing the New Resource Food regulation in the beginning of
the year 2008.
The approval enables the negotiations with potential Chinese partners to be
started. The approval issued by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic
of China enables plant stanol ester to be added to a wide selection of
foodstuffs. The use of a health claim requires the final product to be tested in
a research facility approved by the authorities. The New Resource Food
regulation of the People's Republic of China is similar to the Novel Foods
Regulation of the European Union. The cholesterol levels of Chinese people have
rapidly increased in the past few years as Western eating habits have become
more common, for example.
Benecol, the pioneering expert in cholesterol-lowering functional foods, is a
global trademark owned by Raisio. Plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented
worldwide by Raisio. Benecol products are currently sold in almost thirty
countries all over the world. Over 50 published high quality clinical trials and
thirteen years of safe use ensure the safety and cholesterol lowering efficacy
of plant stanol ester.
In addition Benecol foods have been issued a positive scientific opinion by the
panel of dietetic foods, nutrition and allergies (NDA) at the European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding the statement that plant stanol ester reduces
the risk of disease. Benecol foods can bear the health claim that: “Plant stanol
ester has been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. Blood cholesterol
lowering may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease”. The health claim still
needs to be approved by EU Commission.
Raisio plc
Heidi Hirvonen
Communications Manager
Tel. +358 50 567 3060
For more information, please contact:
Vincent Poujardieu, Vice President, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. 32
4974 06767
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