Benecol

Article By: John A. Peca

Johnson & Johnson and McNeil Nutritional have developed extensive advertising campaigns that their Benecol Spread and Benecol Light Spread are "proven to reduce cholesterol."

Benecol is a margarine-like spread that contains vegetable oils, and is marketed as Proven to Reduce Cholesterol because it contains plant stanol esters, a group of chemical compounds believed to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein ("LDL") cholesterol in blood when ingested under the correct circumstances. However, there appears to be insufficient scientific support in the form of properly designed and executed studies demonstrating that plant stanol esters have an impact on population-based Cardiac Health Disease morbidity and mortality rates.

The FDA approved a detailed and highly qualified health claim for foods containing at least 1.7g of plant stanol esters per serving. Benecol, however, contains only 0.85g plant stanol esters per serving and does not qualify to display the FDA-approved health claim. Since 2000, Johnson & Johnson has packaged Benecol with an improper plant stanol health claim, rendering Benecol misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug Cosmetic Act.

Moreover, Benecol is made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil ("PHVO") containing artificial trans-fat, toxic food additive that, in the amounts present in Benecol, negatively affects blood cholesterol levels to a greater degree that any positive effect associated with plant stanol esters in the product.

So in addition to being unable to adequately support its claim that Benecol is proven to reduce cholesterol, Johnson & Johnson also misleads purchasers when it tells consumers Benecol contains No Trans Fat, and No Trans Fatty Acids, because every product made with PHVO contains trans-fat.

We are seeking clients who purchased Benecol Spread or Benecol Light Spread on or after January 1, 2000 in the United States for their own or household use. If you have proof of your purchase of a Benecol containing product and are interested in pursuing a claim against the manufacturer please call John A. Peca toll free at 216-621-1062 or send an email to: japeca@climacolaw.com for a free initial consultation.