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