Consumer goods company Unilever has said that it received a positive response from the European Food Safety Authority to its evidence supporting that black tea improves attention span.
Unilever is the first company in the EU to earn a positive scientific opinion from the EFSA on a health claim for tea.
Funding Research
Unilever conducted three different studies to test the effect of black tea on attention span.
Some volunteers drank two or three cups of black tea, while volunteers in the control group drank a placebo that was coloured and flavoured to look and taste like tea. Before and after each serving, the volunteers were given a series of tasks to undertake while researchers measured both their speed and accuracy.
According to Unilever, the results consistently showed that attention scores were higher after drinking black tea. One proprietary study showed that the scores were higher depending on the strength of the tea.
Scientific Opinion
“It is very valuable for us to have this official positive scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority,” said Clive Gristwood, the executive vice president of research and development in foods and refreshment at Unilever.
“We are pleased to be one of the few companies to achieve this and we consider it a reward for our long years of extensive research in the benefits associated with drinking tea.”
The EFSA opinion is pending review from the European Commission. If granted, Unilever exclusively will have the rights to this health claim for five years.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Padideh Aghanoury. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
