US chocolate giant Mars Inc has filed a lawsuit against cocoa flavanol makers Naturex, Life Extension Foundation and Nutraceuticals in a bid to prevent the sale and promotion of flavanol supplements.

In the suit, filed in the District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, the company claimed that the defendants have breached nine US patents owned by Mars.

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“For nearly two decades, Mars has been studying the process of measuring and maximizing the retention of cocoa flavanols and uncovering their related health benefits, resulting in over 100 scientific publications and a broad patent portfolio,” Mars insisted.

“This suit is consistent with the long-standing commitment at Mars to vigorously enforce its patent portfolio,” the maker of CirkuHealth cocoa flavanol supplements added.

Naturex produces Cocoactiv, Nutraceuticals manufacturs Solaray and Life Extension Foundation prduces Cocoa Gold products, all of which, Mars claims, impede its patent protection rights.