EFSA Article 14: Positive Opinion for oat Beta-Glucan

ZUG, Switzerland, December 9, 2010 - A scientific panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published
its positive opinion on a disease risk reduction health claim dossier for oat
beta-glucan on 8. December 2010, following an application from CreaNutrition
AG submitted pursuant to Article 14 of the EC regulation on nutrition and
health claims.

According to the positive opinion of the EFSA panel for dietetic
products, nutrition and allergies (NDA), foods providing 3g of oat
beta-glucan per day can bear the health claim: "Oat beta-glucan has been
shown to lower/reduce blood cholesterol. Blood cholesterol lowering may
reduce the risk of heart disease." The health claim still needs to be
approved by the EU Commission.

The Nutrition and Health Claim Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 stipulates
that only approved health claims can be used in the marketing of foods
throughout Europe. The regulation aims to build confidence among European
consumers based on strong scientific evidence and protect against misleading
claims.

Bioactive oat beta-glucan is the cholesterol-lowering constituent of
CreaNutrition's OatWell(R) oat bran ingredients. CreaNutrition is pleased
about the positive opinion published by EFSA, with its acknowledgment of a
strong scientific approach: "The evidence presented indicates that the
cholesterol-lowering effect of oat beta-glucan may depend on the increased
viscosity in the small intestine that reduces the reabsorption of bile acids,
increases the synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol, and reduces
circulating (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. Viscosity in the small
intestine is determined by the concentration, molecular weight (MW) and
solubility of oat beta-glucan."(EFSA Journal 2010;8(12):1885)

A daily intake of 3g of bioactive oat beta-glucan in foods that can be
reasonably consumed is recommended as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

The eligible natural oat sources contain not only beta-glucan, but also
insoluble fibres, protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and
plant sterols. Healthy eaters have enjoyed oats for decades; the first
scientific report linking oat consumption to cholesterol reduction was
published in the early 1960s.

This EFSA statement concerning the naturally occurring oat beta-glucan
found in oat bran is the first positive cereal-based, disease-risk reduction
opinion.

CreaNutrition is a pioneering company with leading expertise in bioactive
oat beta-glucan solutions. Sizeably funded clinical research conducted
extensively over the past twenty years, as well as specific scientific
dossiers submitted by CreaNutrition, have resulted in several health claim
approvals being granted in the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands and
France.

OatWell(R) oat bran ingredients are marketed by CreaNutrition and appear
in many health food products around the globe.

    For more information, please visit or contact:
    Ruedi Duss
    Tel +41-41-747-01-95
    www.oatwell.com

For more information, please visit or contact: Ruedi Duss, Tel +41-41-747-01-95