03.01.05
Dutch health insurer VGZ is to reimburse policyholders who buy Unilever’s range of cholesterol-lowering margarine, yogurt and milk products in a bid to reduce medical costs related to heart disease…It is thought to be the first time an insurance company will subsidize food rather than medicine and comes as a strong sign of support for sterol-containing products. It could also set a precedent for other functional foods to be reimbursed under health insurance. VGZ is one of the six largest health insurers in The Netherlands with about two million customers. Its policyholders will be able to claim up to €40 a year to refund purchases of Becel pro-active products made by Unilever.
—Nutraingredients.com, 1/5/05