FINNISH BENECOL® IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TEN GREATEST DISCOVERIES IN NUTRITION


Raisio plc		Press Release 23.2.2009                                             

FINNISH BENECOL® IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S TEN GREATEST DISCOVERIES IN NUTRITION    

The Finnish innovation-based, cholesterol-lowering food ingredient plant stanol 
ester was recently selected as one of the ten greatest discoveries in nutrition 
worldwide. The review1 published in European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in   
January 2009 presented the greatest discoveries related to nutrition during the 
past 30 years. The discoveries chosen were based on the views of the world's    
leading nutrition researchers and solid research data.                          

The review emphasized the overwhelming research evidence of plant stanol ester's
efficacy: Benecol products are one of the few functional foods that can truly   
lower the level of a risk factor for disease. Also the efficacy of Benecol      
products was emphasized: The cholesterol-lowering effect of products containing 
plant stanol ester is equivalent to the combined effect of all other favorable  
dietary changes. Additionally, Benecol products have the advantage in that they 
are specifically a dietary means to lowering cholesterol.                       

The importance of plant stanols was understood in 1990s with their incorporation
into foods in a way that even enhances their cholesterol-lowering potency. Here,
the Finnish innovation played a key role because it made it possible to produce 
plant stanol ester suitable for food applications. Plant stanol ester is not    
only effective, it is also a safe way to lower cholesterol because it partially 
blocks the absorption of cholesterol from the digestive tract but plant stanols 
themselves are not absorbed. Only Benecol products contain cholesterol-lowering 
plant stanol ester.                                                             

Benecol®, the original cholesterol-lowering expert, is a global brand owned by  
Raisio, and plant stanol ester is an ingredient globally patented by Raisio.    
Benecol, the original expert in cholesterol lowering, is a trade mark owned     
globally by Raisio and plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented globally by 
Raisio.                                                                         


Source:                                                                         
1) Katan et al. Which are the greatest recent discoveries and the greatest      
challenges in Nutrition? Eur J Clin Nutr 2009; 63: 2-10. (Available on the      
internet at: http://www.nature.com/ejcn/index.html)                             


Raisio plc                                                                      

Heidi Hirvonen                                                                  
Communications Manager                                                          
Tel. +358 50 567 3060                                                           

Additional information:                                                         
Ingmar Wester, R&D Director, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. +358 50 601 
32                                                                              
Susanna Rosin, Nutrition Manager, Ingredients Division, Raisio plc, tel. +358   
400 878637