Chocolate

Startup Spotlight

Wine industry by-product startup offers upcycled gut health support

20-Nov-2023 By Olivia Haslam

WellVine, the functional ingredient manufacturer utilising Chardonnay Marc, has been chosen as a NutraIngredients ‘Probiota Pioneer’ for its zero-waste ingredient designed for gut health.

Startup Spotlight

Q&A: JOYÀ founder talks fresh take on ‘bitter tinctures and powders and hard-to-swallow pills’

08-May-2023 By Asia Sherman

Toronto-based functional wellness brand JOYÀ presents its adaptogenic superblends and functional chocolates as daily wellness reimagined – a response to trendy health fads, cure-all claims and hard-to-adhere-to routines dominating what it calls a noisy...

NutraWomen Wednesday: Nicole Smith, CEO, The Functional Chocolate Company

26-Oct-2022 By Danielle Masterson

Nicole Smith is an accomplished entrepreneur and a pioneer in the botanical product development space. She co-founded Mary’s Medicinals, co-authored the first patent issued in the legal cannabis market in the US and spearheaded the launch of new lines...

Cocoa flavanols decrease blood pressure only when elevated, researchers find

04-Aug-2022 By Will Chu

Cocoa flavanols appear to decrease blood pressure only when elevated say researchers, easing previous concerns that the nutrient can decrease blood pressure in healthy adults.

Dark chocolate may alter gut microbiome, improve mood: RCT

24-Sep-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming an 85% cocoa dark chocolate significantly altered the diversity of the gut microbiome and improved mood in a randomized controlled trial with healthy young adults.

Study reports health benefits of morning chocolate

28-Jun-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Eating chocolate in the morning may help burn body fat, decrease glucose levels, and improved microbiome health, thanks to the flavanol content, according to a new study.

Chocolate linked to lower cardio disease risk, study suggests

25-May-2021 By Will Chu

Regular chocolate consumption may lower Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk, according to a study, which identifies cocoa content and flavonoid amounts in chocolate types as possible reasons for this link.

Supplement firm uses chocolate as delivery mode for functional ingredients

12-Feb-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new supplement brand uses the unusual delivery form of premium chocolate to deliver functional ingredients in products aimed originally at women.

Can chocolate have a positive influence on bone health? New review explores existing data

30-Apr-2019 By Adi Menayang

A review of published studies concerning chocolate consumption and bone health found that moderate chocolate intake was linked to greater longitudinal bone growth in adolescents, but little to negative bone effects for postmenopausal women.

Dark chocolate consumption linked to improved markers of cardiovascular health in new study

29-Apr-2019 By Adi Menayang

Eating dark chocolate was linked to improvement of several markers of cardiovascular health, according to results from a clinical trial of 30 participants conducted in Portugal.

Health

Cocoa for cognition: Study proposes how to assess what exactly in chocolate may give brains a boost

04-Sep-2018 By Adi Menayang

Belgian researchers propose a chocolate ‘mood pyramid’ to assess which of chocolate’s constituent compounds may affect the mood of chocolate eaters.

Lotte’s probiotic chocolate success highlights functional potential in Japan

16-Jan-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Functional chocolate is poised to contribute to market growth in Japan based on the success of Lotte’s Sweet Days chocolate, says market analyst Canadean.

Cacao extract may improve atopic dermatitis-like symptoms, rodent study

24-Aug-2016 By Adi Menayang

Researchers in South Korea studied how the polyphenols in Theobroma cacao extract may reduce atopic dermatitis-like symptoms.

Higher cocoa chocolate may not mean more flavanols, say researchers

17-Aug-2016 By Oliver Nieburg

The most familiar quality parameter of chocolate – the cocoa solids percentage – has no correlation with flavanol levels, according to a study by the University of Reading.

Healthy chocolate: EU cocoa flavanol health claim ‘should be revised’, say researchers

06-Jul-2016 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa flavanols do have cardiovascular health benefits, but more are needed in a single dose than the EU’s approved health claim, say researchers.

That’s It. brings “zesty” flavors to sweet-dominated nutrition bar category

31-Mar-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

Move over sweet and savory – zesty is the latest flavor profile to enter the nutrition bar category with the launch of a new line of fruit bars from manufacturer That’s It.

Regular chocolate intake linked to enhanced cognition in cohort study

02-Mar-2016 By Douglas Yu

Habitual chocolate consumption has correlation with better cognitive functioning, according to analyses of 968 people living in New York

Mangosteen rind ups 'cheap chocolate' polyphenols by 50%: Research

21-Jan-2016 By Louisa Richards

Adding a mangosteen fruit by-product to cheaper low cocoa chocolates could improve their nutritional content without compromising flavour, researchers have discovered.

Dark chocolate may boost time trial performance for cyclists

23-Dec-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Flavanol-rich dark chocolate may boost endurance and exercise performance in moderately-trained male cyclists, says a new study.

Supplemented chocolate: A new confections category set for growth, says Energems

21-Dec-2015 By Douglas Yu

Energems has been accepted as a member at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and says the new confectionery category of chocolate energy supplements it has created is poised for growth.

Theo Innovations debuts flavanol-rich cocoa extract

31-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

Seattle-based Theo Chocolate has launched the first functional ingredient from its subsidiary Theo Innovations. Called Violetamine, the product is an extract of cocoa high in polyphenols and theobromine.

Nutegrity debuts epicatechin-rich cocoa extract

01-Oct-2014 By Hank Schultz

Nutegrity, the human nutrition division of Omega Protein, has added CocoaNol, an organic cocoa extract, to its ingredient lineup and will be highlighting the ingredient at the upcoming SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas, NV, the company announced...

Dispatches from the NCA State of the Industry Conference in Miami

US cocoa flavanol health claim nears but ‘not quite there yet’

10-Mar-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

More clinical trials are needed for a US health claim on cocoa flavanols, according to the National Confectioners’ Association’s technical director.

Dark choc improves heart health, but it’s got nothing to do with flavanols

28-Feb-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Dark chocolate may help restore flexibility to arteries and prevent white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, but increasing flavanol content will not affect these effects and may even put consumers off, say researchers.

Special Edition: Polyphenols

Callebaut: More specific cocoa flavanol content claims will increase

28-Jan-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

Despite the growing body of research extolling the health benefits of flavanols found in cocoa, chocolate product manufacturers have yet to fully embrace front-of-pack claims calling out these compounds—with many still opting for more general “antioxidant”...

Barry Callebaut-funded study

Dark chocolate enhances mood but not cognition, say researchers

15-May-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate may keep you calmer and content but no link has been established with enhanced cognitive performance, according to a study funded by Barry Callebaut.

Regular cocoa flavanol intake could help maintain brain health – study

16-Apr-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

New research claims regularly eating cocoa flavanols could protect people from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Could white chocolate compounds also benefit heart health?

08-Jan-2013

The potential heart health benefits of dark chocolate may be only partly linked to the flavanol content, with white chocolate - devoid of such compounds - also offering potential cardiovascular benefits, says a new study.

Hershey antioxidant labeling claims under spotlight in US court

19-Nov-2012 By Oliver Nieburg

Hershey is to face a lawsuit over antioxidant labeling claims made on its Special Dark Cocoa and Special Dark Kisses.

Cocoa supplement market close to breakthrough

22-Oct-2012 By Hank Schultz

Positive science results are helping cocoa flavonols make progress in the market, and resolving issues around supply, around sustainability, and even around basic analytical methods could open the field of opportunity even wider, experts say.

Dark chocolate could reduce heart disease risk, says study

16-Aug-2012 By Oliver Nieburg

Cocoa compounds found in dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure in the short term and could help guard against cardiovascular disease, according to a recently released study.

Chocolate fails to improve motor function despite increased consumption by Parkinson’s sufferers

25-May-2012 By Oliver Nieburg

Dark chocolate and cocoa ingredients do not improve motor function for those with Parkinson’s disease despite increased consumption among those with the disease, according to a study.

Cocoa flavanols can improve eye and brain function, study

09-May-2011 By Jane Byrne

A new study from researchers at the University of Reading claims that consumption of cocoa flavanols may improve aspects of eye and brain function.

Hershey: Cocoa polyphenols show weight management potential

05-May-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Extracts from cocoa may block carbohydrate and lipid breakdown in the gut, and aid weight management, says a new study from Hershey.

Study finds new way to gauge chocolate's essential minerals

13-Jan-2011 By Jane Byrne

Brazilian researchers claim a spectrometry based tecnique is a cost effective and simple way to determine levels of minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in chocolate.

Mars: Cocoa flavanols show prebiotic potential

21-Dec-2010 By Stephen Daniells

Flavanol compounds derived from cocoa may boost the populations of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, says a new study from Mars and the University of Reading.

Polyphenol-rich choc may ease chronic fatigue symptoms: Study

23-Nov-2010 By Stephen Daniells

Consumption of a flavanol-rich chocolate product may ease the symptoms of chronic fatigue, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Hull in England.

Dark chocolate may reduce cholesterol levels in diabetics

20-Oct-2010 By Helen Glaberson

Dark chocolate could reduce cholesterol levels for people with diabetes, according to recent findings from a university study.

Cocoa bean grind up in US and Europe

16-Jul-2010 By Jane Byrne

North American cocoa bean grind in the second quarter of 2010 again showed double digit gains from the same quarter a year ago, according to data from the US National Confectioners Association (NCA).

Healthy chocolates may need more sugar: Kraft study

10-May-2010 By Stephen Daniells

Ensuring consumers reap the benefits from the beneficial compounds in cocoa may mean formulating products with more sugar, suggests a new study from Kraft.

Mars sues over cocoa flavanols

14-Apr-2010 By Shane Starling

Mars Inc is suing Nutraceuticals, Life Extension Foundation and Naturex for infringing nine patents covering the manufacture of its CirkuHealth cocoa flavanols.

Beyond guilt - Barry Callebaut predicts a healthy future for chocoholics

03-Feb-2010 By Jane Byrne

ConfectioneryNews.com caught up with Hans Vriens, chief innovation officer with global chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut at the industry trade show Pro Sweets, where he spilled the beans on the future for functional chocolate.

Antioxidant levels in chocolate show stability - study

05-Nov-2009 By Jane Byrne

The levels of antioxidant activity and flavan-3-ol levels in chocolate products are stable over a controlled shelf life of one year, according to a new study.

Special edition: Healthy chocolate

Regulation: the rules governing healthy chocolate

23-Oct-2009 By Shane Starling

In the final part of our series on healthy chocolate, NutraIngredients scans the regulatory landscape to see how the movement towards healthy cocoa offerings is being affected by the rules in some of the lands they are proliferating in.

Special edition: Healthy chocolate

Supply: Sourcing heart healthy chocolate

22-Oct-2009 By Stephen Daniells

In the third part of a special series on the health benefits of cocoa polyphenols, NutraIngredients looks at the sourcing and supply issues associated with ensuring antioxidant levels in chocolate.

Special edition: Healthy chocolate

Markets: functional chocolate finding its feet

20-Oct-2009 By Shane Starling

In the first of a four-part special series, NutraIngredients.com dips its investigative strawberry into the world of healthy chocolate and finds a relatively embryonic sector still finding its way but buoyed by ever-more cocoa polyphenol science, exciting...