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Finnish product named among world’s top 10 nutrition innovations

25/02/2009

Benecol was first marketed as a margarine in Finland in 1995 and has become internationally known as one of the few foods that can lower cholesterol levels. The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published an article in January this year where Benecol is cited among the ten most important nutrition innovations during the period 1976-2006.

The significance of plant stanols was first understood in the 1990s when they were added to food products in a way that increased their efficiency in lowering cholestorol. Benecol prevents cholesterol from absorbing through the intestinal wall, without absorbing itself.

Benecol is an international brand of food products owned by the Finnish company Raisio Group, a specialist in plant-based nutrition. Only Benecol products contain plant stanol esters.