At Unilever (West European company) our goal is to improve cardiovascular health and to make the world’s hearts healthier. For more than 50 years, we have played a leading role in helping consumers choose foods that are good for their hearts by:
- Helping to raise the profile of heart disease through our partnership with the World Heart Federation. Did you know that it’s the world’s single biggest killer - an estimated 17.5 million people die from heart disease every year ?
- Raising awareness that heart disease is largely preventable by taking simple everyday steps towards healthy eating - through a number of education campaigns, including Love Your Heart
- Empowering health conscious consumers to make simple food choices that are good for their heart - by providing products that give people a helping hand towards heart healthy food choices
- Supporting health professionals in educating their patients on the role of food choices in heart disease prevention - by developing simple, relevant and motivational tools
- Working closely with leading heart health charities e.g. the World Heart Federation, and the Society of Cardiology of the Russian Federation (VNOK) to increase the awareness of heart health in Russia
Becel is Unilever's global brand bringing heart healthy products to the market for over 45 years. Our heart health history is reflected in our name, Becel, which originated form the abbreviation BCL - Blood Cholesterol Lowering. Our Becel products have been developed following research into consumers’ understanding of heart disease, food choices, and obstacles to making positive changes. We are recognised by the medical profession as a world leader in nutritional research. Back in the 1950s, we were asked to create a healthy alternative to butter by the Dutch Government and medical community. Today, we are working with the World Heart Federation to promote heart health awareness (see timeline below).
Becel’s new range of delicious products – made from a heart healthy blend of seed oils, naturally rich in Omega 3 and 6 - is designed to fit easily into healthy balanced food choices. A convenient and effective way to get the right balance of heart healthy oils, Becel is already available in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Timeline – key milestones
For over 50 years we have been leaders in bringing heart healthy foods to the market, starting in Western Europe. This has been made possible by the pioneering work of Unilever scientists and nutritionists over many decades.
1950s: Unilever supports research into the beneficial role of healthy oils in the diet. When the link between consumption of ‘bad’ (saturated) fats and heart disease is established by researchers, the Dutch medical community approaches Unilever to create a healthy alternative to butter.
1960s: Becel, the first spread rich in healthy oils and low in ‘bad’ (saturated) fat, is launched.
1970s: Heart health continues to be a key focus of the Unilever Food and Health Research Institute. We investigate new options for heart healthy foods, expand scientific knowledge on food choices and heart disease, and provide evidence of the effectiveness of our products.
2000s: Becel signs a partnership with the World Heart Federation in 2003 to promote heart health awareness.
2008: Becel launches heart healthy products in Russia and signs partnership with the Society of Cardiology of the Russian Federation (VNOK) to increase awareness of the link between food choices and heart health.
