FINLAND &#8211, Food manufacturer Raisio and dairy group Valio have signed an agreement to develop and market new dairy products with claimed cholesterol-lowering properties.

As part of the agreement Raisio will supply Valio with the Benecol stanol ester it has developed and patented and give it the rights to use the Benecol brand name. In return Valio will develop, manufacture, market and sell the products in Finland, Sweden and the Baltic states. The agreement covers all dairy products with the exception of spreads and creams already marketed by Raisio.

The agreement will combine the companies’ efforts in the field of functional foods: Raiso has its cholesterol-reducing Benecol products and Valio its Gefilus range containing Lactobacillus GG, as well as Evolus, a milk drink that is claimed to lower blood pressure.