Benecol®

Benecol® is one of the brightest stars among Finnish functional foods. It is the world’s only commercial food brand using plant stanol ester for cholesterol reduction.

It started as a margarine in 1995. Today Benecol is a globally successful brand giving millions of consumers in nearly 30 countries in 5 continents reliable control over harmful LDL cholesterol.

Plant stanol is a natural ingredient that blocks absorption of cholesterol from food. As plant stanol ester it is added to dozens of flavorful foods and beverages that give consumers many easy ways to enhance health.

These tasty products fit the modern lifestyle and also are proven healthy. Results from more than 50 gold standard clinical trials have been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, to show that plant stanol ester safely and effectively lowers LDL cholesterol.

In fact, these studies show that plant stanol ester can lower LDL cholesterol by up to 15% in as little as two weeks, when used daily as part of a healthy diet.

The safety of plant stanol ester has been demonstrated in rigorous testing by independent research institutions. In the United States, where it has been sold since 1999, plant stanol ester has FDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. And U.S. health authorities recommend products like Benecol for consumers with moderate and high cholesterol.

While this foundation of good science is important, for consumers Benecol makes cholesterol reduction an easy decision. It is available in spreads like margarine, as well as milk, yogurts, yogurt drinks, smoothies, porridge, bread and snacks. These products are formulated with local-country preferences and cultural considerations in mind.

By giving consumers worldwide simple ways to embrace a healthy lifestyle, Raisio Group, the manufacturer of plant stanol ester and owner of Benecol brand, brings life to its global mission to lower the world's cholesterol.

In the U.S., Benecol is available at grocery stores in Benecol margarine spreads and online as Benecol smart chew snacks.

Through years of work to enter new markets and develop new products, Raisio and its network of market partners who license Benecol, have created an innovative product line and expert knowledge in cholesterol reduction.

As a globally leading brand in functional foods and cholesterol reduction, Benecol is a pioneer among Finland’s innovative food processing and consumer products industry, and a globally successful representative for Fresh! From Finland.

For more information about Benecol, please visit www.benecol.net