Information released by the California Prune Board shows the continuing growth in research around the role of prunes in health, saying they are seeing positive results from several separate research studies.

Said Kevin Verbruggen, European Marketing Director at the California Prune Board: “We are delighted with the recent results from ongoing research. We’re already aware of the fantastic health benefits prunes can offer and want to continue to delve into this area of research in order to discover more about how beneficial they can be as part of a daily diet."

Prunes have been in UK consumers’ diets going back decades, however the focus was often on how prunes could benefit normal digestive function. According to the Board, there are more benefits than just this, including for bone and vascular health.

Nutritionist Jennette Higgs comments, “Consumers often completely forget that prunes have the great benefits for your normal digestive function*, the only dried whole fruit with an authorized health claim. Equally, something often overlooked by consumers is the fact that prunes have no added sugar, are high in fibre and free from saturated fat which, with an increasingly health conscious market, makes them a great asset at times when something sweet is needed for instance in baking or snacking.”