Aug 10 2010 --- The BENEO Label is making great strides in Spain and Panama with two major Spanish supermarket chains including it on their healthy product ranges and the largest dairy producer in Panama using it on two of its latest dairy products. The wide range of products that now carry the BENEO Label demonstrates the appeal that the program continues to have across the globe.

The BENEO Label Program, which first began as a joint European led initiative between food manufacturers and BENEO in Belgium, is designed to communicate the health benefits of Orafti inulin and oligofructose (prebiotic ingredients), through the use of one easy-to-understand quality label. The label provides a product with a recognisable symbol that indicates to consumers that the product contains a sufficient amount of Orafti inulin or oligofructose to support a scientifically proven health claim.

El Corte Ingles and Hipercor, Spain’s largest supermarket chains, have recently launched Bebida de Chufa, a functional drink which includes BENEO’s OraftiSynergy (a patented form of oligofructose enriched inulin). Bebida de Chufa is part of Special Line, a healthy product range developed by El Corte Ingles and Hipercor and it carries the BENEO Label as it contains a sufficient amount of Orafti ingredients to promote a healthy intestinal flora. A single 200ml glass of Bebida de Chufa not only promotes good digestive health, but also provides 30% of daily zinc and vitamins A, C and E requirements and in addition has health enhancing antioxidant properties.

Tim Van der Schraelen, Marketing Communication Manager at BENEO comments: “We are delighted that big supermarket chains such as El Corte Ingles and Hipercor are acknowledging the value of a quality label such as BENEO. We hope that other countries will see the success of healthy product ranges such as Special Line and realise the potential of communicating the health benefits of our ingredients through the BENEO Label. Our excellent knowledge and understanding of the functional market and consumer behaviour allows us to provide a high quality service, ensuring that initiatives like our BENEO Label Program continue to support our customers in their new product development.”

Although the BENEO Label is on many products across the globe, it is thanks to Estrella Azul Industrias Lácteas that the BENEO Label has now arrived in Panama. Estrella Azul, the largest dairy producer in Panama, has developed two products: Vita Slim LOW Fat, a fat reduced milk, and NON Fat Milk, a reformulated non fat milk, both promoting calcium absorption and active fibre, thanks to BENEO’s patented and unique OraftiSynergy1 ingredient. The products have been well received having benefitted from an extensive marketing support campaign that has included TV commercials throughout the country.

As the BENEO Program has grown, so has the number of products launched around the world. Here is a sample of some of the latest product launches:

Spain: UHT tiger nut drink - Bebida de Chufa included in the healthy range of products SPECIAL LINE from the supermarkets El Corte Inglés and HIPERCOR. This vegetable drink promotes prebiotic effect thanks to the incorporation of OraftiSynergy.

Panama: Vita Slim LOW Fat Milk (1,5% fat) and NON Fat Milk (less than 0,1% fat) with active fibres from Estrella Azul, the largest dairy producer in Panama. Both milks include OraftiSynergy1 and promote a better intestinal transit as well as better calcium absorption.

Brazil: Palate Chocolate Active, powder chocolate mix with fibres from Savon. The inulin fibre contributes to the balance of the intestinal flora.

Germany: Fruit + Veg - Figur Plus – powder mix from GSK (Abtei) promoting the satiety effect thanks to the mix of fibres from fruit and vegetable origin.

Romania: 2 food supplements from Innergy: Bifido-Plus and In-Ca. Bifido-Plus promotes the bifidogenic effect and a better intestinal transit while In-Ca promotes an improved calcium absorption and bone mineral density.

Macedonia: BALANS bread from Zito Vardar. White bread containing inulin fibre for a improved digestion.