Cocoa

Does cocoa extract improve cognitive function in older adults?

04-Jan-2024 By Asia Sherman

Supplementing with cocoa extract may benefit some aging brains more than others, according to findings from a recent study.

Sustainabilty

Cargill accused of child labour practices on Brazilian cocoa farms

28-Sep-2023 By Anthony Myers

Cargill, one of the world’s largest cocoa suppliers, has been ordered by a Brazilian court to pay 600,000 reais ($120,185) as indemnity for allegedly buying cocoa from farms where child labour or forced work has been identified.

Ayana Bio opens a new plant cell-to-product lab

12-Jul-2023 By Stephen Daniells

The new lab in Boston’s Seaport District is intended to help the company accelerate the commercialization of multiple cultivated ingredients.

Growing consumer pressures driving sustainability in the nutrition industry

26-Jun-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Consumer and legislative pressures, and scarcity of ingredients will be the three main drivers for nutraceutical companies to become more sustainable, according to Monique van der Vijve, innovation manager at Solidaridad, the global sustainability organisation....

FDA will not object to limited health claims regarding cocoa flavanols and cardiovascular disease

06-Feb-2023 By Lauren Nardella

FDA will allow a very narrow set of claims linking cocoa flavanols in high flavanol cocoa powder and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease following a petition from Switzerland-based chocolate and cocoa product manufacturer Barry Callebaut AG.

Pomegranate-cocoa extract blend shows healthy ageing benefits for men

22-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

A proprietary blend of extracts of pomegranate and cocoa may increase testosterone levels, improve grip strength, and improved other measures of ageing in healthy men, says a new study from India.

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.

Mars partners with AI firm on ingredient discovery project

03-May-2022 By Hank Schultz

Food giant Mars Inc. has teamed with an artificial intelligence firm PIPA to speed the discovery of new plant-based ingredients for the human and animal food and dietary supplement markets.

Evidence suggests cocoa flavanols can prevent CVD mortality

11-Apr-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

US researchers conducting a Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) observed a 27% reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults treated with the extract, although there was no improvement in the death rate for...

Cocoa-pomegranate extract blend may boost T levels for healthy men: Study

09-Feb-2022 By Stephen Daniells

A proprietary blend of extracts of pomegranate and cocoa may increase total and free testosterone levels and increase strength measures in healthy young men, says a new study from India and the US.

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.

Mars says new studies on cognitive function, cardiovascular endpoints will bolster data supporting cocoa flavanols

25-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

Mars says two large scale studies underway will add to the already thick dossier of data backing its cocoa flavanols dietary supplement. One study looks at cognitive function while the other has a variety of cardiovascular health endpoints.

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.

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.

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”...

Is theobromine responsible for cocoa’s cholesterol benefits?

21-May-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential of cocoa to beneficially impact ‘good’ cholesterol levels may be linked to the theobromine content and not the flavonoids, says a new study from Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen.

Cocoa offers ‘consistent’ benefits for heart health: Meta-analysis

03-Feb-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Consumption of cocoa and the compounds it contains offer significant and ‘consistent’ benefits to blood flow and blood pressure, says a new meta-analysis of 42 studies.

Cocoa compounds show joint health potential

05-Oct-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Flavonoid compounds in cocoa may reduce inflammation associated with arthritis in lab animals, says a new study with possible implications for joint health.

Dark chocolate/cocoa effective for cholesterol improvements: Meta-analysis

22-Aug-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming polyphenol-rich dark chocolate or cocoa products may reduce total and LD cholesterol levels, but has no effect on HDL levels, according to a meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials.

Cocoa’s benefits linked to anti-inflammatory potential: Human data

11-Aug-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The potential health benefits of cocoa polyphenols may be linked to their anti-inflammatory potential, suggests data from a human study from the University of Barcelona, Spain.

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.

Leading scientists welcome Mars backed cocoa genome breakthrough

16-Sep-2010 By Jane Byrne

A breakthrough in cocoa genetics by a collaboration involving Mars, USDA and IBM will accelerate research into the production of trees that can better resist drought, disease and pests, and has met with an enthusiastic welcome from leading cocoa scientists...

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).