London - A chocolate that is good for the heart has been developed - and could be on sale in months.
Acticoa, a dark chocolate containing health-boosting plant chemicals called flavanols, is made by Swiss company Barry Callebaut.
Tests show that it increases the elasticity of blood vessels by one to two percent, making it easier for blood to flow.
Research shows that an improvement of one percent cuts the risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, by eight percent.
Cocoa beans are naturally high in flavanols but they are normally stripped out during processing.
Barry Callebaut has made adjustments to its processing technique, to preserve the flavanols.
Spokesman Marijke de Brouwer said: “This is not about artificially adding a nutrient - it is about preserving what is already present in cocoa.”
A Chocolate Industry Network conference heard recently that interest in Acticoa is high, as the European Commission has given permission to carry a health claim.
Wrappers will be able to state that “cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow”. - Daily Mail