Following an application from cocoa manufacturer Barry Callebaut, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the modification of the authorisation of a health claim related to “cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which contributes to normal blood flow.”

The authorised conditions of use of the claim are: “Information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols. The claim can be used only for cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark chocolate, which provide at least a daily intake of 200 mg of cocoa flavanols with a degree of polymerisation 1-10.

The modification concerns an extension of the authorised conditions of use of the claim to a high-flavanol (HF) cocoa extract to be consumed in capsules, tablets or added to “other foods, including beverages.” The scope of the application was proposed to fall under a health claim based on newly developed scientific evidence and including a request for the protection of proprietary data.

The panel notes that cocoa flavanols, which are the subject of the health claim, have been sufficiently characterised. The target population is the general healthy adult population.