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30-511: Raisio Group's well-known international brands are Benecol and Elovena . Benecol foods were launched in Finland in 1995 as part of major public health initiative to lower the nation's cholesterol. Two decades later Benecol product range has grown to include spreads, yogurts and yogurt drinks trusted by millions around the world. In 2021, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 246 million and comparable EBIT

60-562: A "public consultation on transparency in relation to risk assessments conducted by EFSA," it was evident that consumers wanted enhanced public access "to EFSA evaluations and documents." Chearnaigh concludes that the public's demands for direct transparency from the EFSA resulted in the creation of Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1381. This legal document outlines the importance of inclusive communication regarding chemical risk assessment to all parties involved: both government bodies and citizens. Residents of

90-404: A daily intake of plant stanol esters equivalent to 1.5–2.4 g of plant stanols in an appropriate food. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes the role of plant stanols in lowering blood total and LDL cholesterol, and has authorized a “Health Claim Meeting Significant Scientific Agreement (SSA)” for use on certain foods to which plant stanols have been added. The following

120-759: Is a brand of cholesterol -lowering food products owned by the Finnish company Raisio Group , which owns the trademark. Raisio Group licenses the Benecol brand and sells the ingredient stanol ester to food companies around the world. The brand is licensed in more than 30 countries by local food companies such as Kaiku in Spain , Colanta in Colombia , Lotte in South Korea , Kalbe Nutritionals in Indonesia and Johnson & Johnson in

150-576: Is considered a sports food supplement, also known as an ergogenic aid. Some popular examples of sports food supplements include protein powder/bars, creatine , and electrolyte beverages. Similar to the established food laws, the European Union has laws in place to ensure that sports supplements do not mislead consumers with false information. In an analytical assessment article, it states that supplement labels and advertisements often make false health claims, and about 70% of athletes are heavily influenced by

180-503: Is evidence that foods containing plant sterols and stanols reduce cholesterol levels", the government body concludes that "there is not enough evidence at the moment that these products prevent cardiovascular disease." Benecol contains plant-based cholesterols, such as plant stanols or sterols . This displaces cholesterol from micelles so less is absorbed in the small intestine . However, plant-based cholesterols get pumped out of enterocyte cells so are not absorbed effectively. There

210-569: Is not recommended and Benecol foods may not be appropriate for pregnant or breast feeding women, and children under 5 years old. Two reviews confirm that plant stanol and sterol esters lower cholesterol levels. Benecol foods have been found as a way to reduce cholesterol and they also can help lower cholesterol in people that are taking statins . However, it is important that those already taking cholesterol lowering medication consult with their GP (Primary Care Physician) before embarking on dietary cholesterol programmes. The first Benecol product

240-542: Is substantial evidence to support the cholesterol-lowering effect of phytosterol- and phytostanol-containing products. After rigorous scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), four health claims have been approved for use in the European Union and Great Britain, allowing products to emphasise the proven health benefit. The European Commission has authorised that an LDL-cholesterol lowering effect of 7–10% can be achieved in 2–3 weeks by

270-471: Is the FDA model health claim, to which certain designated optional modifications may be made: “Foods containing at least 0.5g per serving of plant stanols eaten with meals or snacks for a daily total intake of 2g as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of Benecol buttery spread supplies 1 g of plant stanols." Consuming more than 3g of plant stanol per day

300-592: The European Court of Auditors in 2012, for "frequent conflicts of interests ", some of them undeclared. A number of undisclosed conflicts of interest involved the International Life Sciences Institute . According to Corporate Europe Observatory , in 2013, 58% of the experts of the agency were in situation of conflict of interests . In 2017, they were still 46% in situation of conflict of interests. EFSA has also been criticised by

330-568: The US . The European Commission approved the following statement regarding Benecol products: "Plant stanol esters have been shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol . Blood cholesterol lowering may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease " but noted that "there are no studies demonstrating that plant stanol esters have an impact on population-based CHD morbidity and mortality rates". The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence of England and Wales similarly found that while "[t]here

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360-734: The food chain . EFSA was established in February 2002, is based in Parma , Italy, and for 2021 it has a budget of €118.6 million, and a total staff of 542. The work of EFSA covers all matters with a direct or indirect impact on food and feed safety, including animal health and welfare , plant protection and plant health and nutrition . EFSA supports the European Commission , the European Parliament and EU member states in taking effective and timely risk management decisions that ensure

390-874: The British food company Glisten in 2010. The next year, Raisio acquired Big Bear . In November 2014 Raisio acquired the Benecol business from the affiliates of Johnson & Johnson in the UK, Ireland and Belgium and amended the agreement on the Northern American markets of Benecol. In 2016 Raisio divested its snack bar business in the UK. The main target for 2007 was to improve profitability through streamlining, focusing and enhancing operations. Hereby Raisio divested its food potato and diagnostics businesses and carried through several minor structural changes. Raisio and its partner McNeil signed an agreement that returned Benecol rights to Raisio. The company divested its confectionery business in

420-507: The EFSA Focal Point network: The following countries' national food safety authorities are observers of the EFSA Focal Point network: The EFSA is responsible for maintaining the safety of all food-related items to ensure the public health of all European Union residents and citizens. This includes meat processing, pesticide residue, vitamins, and other supplements. Any substance used to benefit an athletic performance or fitness goal

450-601: The EU and beyond. It is composed of fourteen members appointed by the Council of the European Union in consultation with the European Parliament from a list drawn up by the European Commission , plus one representative of the European Commission. The Executive Director is EFSA's legal representative and is responsible for day-to-day administration, drafting and implementing work programmes, and implementing other decisions adopted by

480-680: The European Commission, European Parliament , and European Council . Since the EFSA is an independent agency but overseen by representatives of the European Commission and Council of the European Union, the EFSA must abide by the transparency policy. According to author Blánaid Ní Chearnaigh, prior to 2018, only some EFSA documents were accessible to the public, such as risk assessments for specific chemicals. These risk assessments were detailed scientific reports that analyzed chemicals' safety levels and potential risk for causing harm, such as cancer. They were difficult to understand and poorly formatted, which frustrated consumers. She articulates that during

510-541: The European Union want to feel confident that their government will protect them from all potential health hazards and prioritize consumers' needs, and through transparency, the EFSA can provide that confidence. As stated by Hanna Schebesta and Kai Purnhagen, the authors of EU Food Law , the EFSA contributes to a public Food Additives list posted by the European Commission that catalogs all food-related chemicals and relevant information for each of them. This additional information includes specific conditions for use, food items

540-631: The FICR handles more of the legislative side of these transparency policies, the EFSA is consulted because the overall public health is involved. Both the EFSA and FICR ensure that all packaging of food available in the European Union includes the following aspects: an ingredient list and the amount of specific ingredients, food name, the date, allergens, total quantity, place of origin, food business operator information, nutrition information, alcoholic content (if applicable), and directions for how to store and use

570-761: The Management Board. They are appointed by the Management Board. The Advisory Forum advises the Executive Director, in particular in drafting a proposal for the EFSA's work programmes. It is composed of representatives of national bodies responsible for risk assessment in the Member States, with observers from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the European Commission. The Scientific Committee and its Scientific Panels provide scientific opinions and advice, each within their own sphere of competence, and are composed of independent scientific experts. The number and names of

600-514: The NGO CHEM Trust for misrepresenting the results of their expert committee's report on bisphenol A (BPA) in January 2015. EFSA claimed in the abstract, press release and briefing that bisphenol A 'posed no risk' to health, when the expert report actually stated the risk was 'low' when considering aggregate exposure (beyond just food). EFSA later modified the abstract to correct this error, though

630-541: The Scientific Panels are adapted in the light of technical and scientific development by the European Commission at EFSA's request. The independent scientific experts are appointed by the Management Board upon a proposal from the Executive Director for three-year terms. Public transparency is the practice of informing citizens of all governmental action, and providing public access to government documents. It enables democratic accountability, meaning that citizens can hold

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660-463: The advertised benefits. In other words, manufacturers advertise gains of using their products, such as increased endurance, knowing that it will increase sales without having any scientific evidence to prove the posted benefits. The EU prevents false health benefit claims through tasking the EFSA with fact-checking advertised health statements, such as a supplement increasing endurance. Both the EFSA and other research organizations "have previously studied

690-791: The characteristics of the different substances added or isolated in supplements, as well as the safety of their consumption." The EFSA and European Commission then both assess whether advertised statements are true or false based on the EFSA's scientific data. The scientific output of the European Food Safety Authority is published in the EFSA Journal , an open-access , online scientific journal . This concerns risk assessment in relation to food and feed and includes nutrition, animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection. The EFSA has been criticised for its alleged "overregulation". The EFSA has been criticised, including by

720-469: The chemical may be found in, and restrictions on the amount that can be used. Transparency also applies to how food is presented to consumers, such as through packaging and advertisements. The EFSA works alongside the Food Information to Consumers Regulation (FICR), a separate agency, to enforce that all food information given to the public is easy to understand, and more importantly, accurate. Although

750-502: The end of 2017 and the cattle feed business in 2018. The strategy 2022–2025 has a clear focus on healthy, responsibly produced food. In 2021, Raisio acquired the Finnish company Verso Food Oy and published a new strategy for 2022–2025. The strategy is based on three focus areas: Benecol products and plant stanol ester solutions, oat-based consumer products and oats as an industrial raw material, and plant-based food. Benecol Benecol

780-570: The government accountable for doing its job to protect them. Transparency increases citizens' trust in the government and keeps them well-informed. Transparency is a fundamental value in the European Union , as stated in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The European Commission declares that all European Union citizens/residents have the freedom of information, which entitles them to have access to all governmental documents from

810-593: The item. The EFSA cooperates with the national food safety authorities of the 27 EU member states, Iceland and Norway, as well as observers from Switzerland and EU candidate countries, through its Focal Points, who also communicate with research institutes and other stakeholders. They "assist in the exchange of scientific information and experts, advise on cooperation activities and scientific projects, promote training in risk assessment and raise EFSA's scientific visibility and outreach in Member States." The following countries' national food safety authorities are members of

840-436: The protection of the health of European consumers and the safety of the food and feed chain. EFSA also communicates to the public in an open and transparent way on all matters within its remit. Based on a regulation of 2002, the EFSA is composed of four bodies: The Management Board sets the budget, approves work programmes, and is responsible for ensuring that EFSA co-operates successfully with partner organisations across

870-540: Was EUR 22 million. Raisio employs some 400 persons. Raisio's production plants are located in Finland and the company has operations in ten countries. The Group's headquarters is in Raisio, Western Finland. The key markets of Benecol products are Finland, the UK, Poland, Ireland and Belgium. In 2004, the company divested its paper chemical division, Raisio Chemicals, to Ciba Specialty Chemicals . In 2009, Raisio sold its margarine business to Bunge Limited . Raisio Group acquired

900-528: Was a spread that was brought to market in Finland in 1995. Since then, the product line has expanded to fat spreads, yogurts , yogurt drinks, cream cheese style spreads, milk and soy drinks, bread and oatmeal . The availability of different products varies in different countries. European Food Safety Authority The European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) is the agency of the European Union (EU) that provides independent scientific advice and communicates on existing and emerging risks associated with

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