Sweet sleep: Japan’s Ezaki Glico reported strong demand for rest-supporting GABA chocolate
Japanese confectionery company Ezaki Glico had seen strong demand for its Mental Balance Chocolate GABA for Sleep, which carried a food with function claim (FFC).
Launched last year, the product was the latest addition to the company’s GABA lineup, which included its flagship Mental Balance Chocolate GABA released in 2005. This was also a FFC product and it claimed to ease stress and support a relaxed mind. They came in milk and dark chocolate flavours.
Both products contained the amino acid, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), although Mental Balance Chocolate GABA for Sleep contained 100mg of GABA per 12.5g of product, more than the flagship product’s 28mg of GABA per 10g.
According to a Euromonitor report on sleep aids, most Japanese prefer to deal with their sleeping problems naturally first, before turning to OTC sleep medications. This meant reconsidering their daily lifestyles, such as exploring more natural remedies.
