CocoaVia is made of dark chocolate high in flavanols, an antioxidant found in cocoa beans, which research shows can thin the blood in a similar way to aspirin. The confectionery is also enriched with vitamins and cholesterol-lowering plant extracts from soy.
Mars says it has spent 10 years developing the product, which goes on sale in the US next month. There are no plans as yet for European distribution.
CocoaVia is fortified with calcium and nutrients that are good for the heart, including folic acid and vitamins B-6, B-12, C and E.
Mars has created a new division, Mars Nutrition for Health and Well-Being, to distribute CocoaVia.
Jimmy Cass, vice-president of marketing at Mars, said: "Chocoloate is the number one flavour ingredient in the world. Heart health is the the number one concern of adults over the age of 40 in every civilised nation. Putting those two together is automatically a big idea."
However, some health experts have suggested caution over the health benefits of the new product. Recent research from the American Heart Association has failed to establish the link Mars is claiming between flavanols and a reduced risk of cancer or heart disease.
Glasgow University's Professor Alan Crozier, an expert in plant products, told The Scotsman that CocoaVia should only be eaten as part of a balanced diet.
Crozier said: "This is a bit like red wine, which is known to have productive effects through flavanols, but if you have too much the alcohol affects you in a bad way."
CocoaVia is available in Chocolate Crunch, Chocolate Almond Crunch and Chocolate Blueberry Crunch varieties.
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