Hersheys Opens Research Center, Supplies Product for Yale Study

HERSHEY, Pa.—The Hershey Co. established the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition to direct research and development efforts on cocoa, nut and other products and technologies in the areas of heart health, weight management, and mental and physical energy.

“Our goal is to redefine the future of snacking by offering consumers products that provide proven health benefits and the superior taste they expect from Hershey,” said Tom Hernquist, senior vice president, chief global growth officer with Hershey (www.hersheys.com). “Our research is validating the significant health benefits of cocoa and snack nuts and, combined with our proven ability to develop and commercialize innovative new products, provides an immense capability to meet the growing consumer demand for healthier products.”

The company also announced preliminary results of a Yale University study that suggests intake of hot cocoa beverages made with Hershey’s Natural Cocoa Powder provides cardiovascular health benefits. According to the results of the study, drinking sweetened or sugarfree hot cocoa can improve arterial function.

“This study provides one more reason to enjoy hot cocoa,” said David Katz, M.D., associate professor of public health at Yale and director of Yale Prevention Research Center, which conducted the study. “The natural cocoa used in this study produced remarkable improvements in arterial function in the people tested. This study adds more evidence regarding the health benefits of natural flavanol antioxidants found both in natural cocoa power and in chocolate.”