Building on over 40 years experience in nutrition research and development, Unilever have pioneered heart health spreads. With this foundation the Flora/Becel pro.activ range of plant sterol enriched foods was launched in 2000.

Pioneer of heart healthy spreads

The link between increased consumption of saturated fats and coronary heart disease was firmly established in the 1950s. Unilever responded to this by developing an alternative to fats rich in saturated fat such as butter, lard and hard margarine. Flora/Becel spread rich in polyunsaturated fat was launched in the 1960s. Since then Flora/Becel products have been adapted in line with new scientific knowledge.

Leading the way in spread technology

In response to scientific knowledge in the 1990s, Flora/Becel was one of the first spreads to contain no hydrogenated vegetable oils and be virtually trans fat free. More recently Flora/Becel increased the amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats in all Flora/Becel spreads.

Launch of plant sterol enriched foods

A more recent addition to the Flora/Becel product line is the range of Flora/Becel pro.activ plant sterol enriched foods. In 2000, the first Flora/Becel pro.activ low fat plant sterol enriched spread was launched in Europe. The range was extended in 2003 to include Flora/Becel pro.activ milk drink and yogurt. In 2004, the Flora/Becel pro.activ ‘one-a-day’ yogurt mini-drink was launched.

Flora/Becel pro.activ is now available in more than 30 countries throughout the world.