3. Introduction
Since the late 1980s, fat-free and
reduced-fat foods– widely available
Not all new products survive the
competitive marketplace--thousands of
new reduced-fat and fat-free products
introduced each year
The result of consumer demand
A response to public health concerns
and initiatives
In 1990, Healthy People 2000 asked
food manufacturers to double the
availability of reduced-fat food products
by the year 2000, a goal that was easily
met
4. Despite fat's bad reputation- very important nutrient
Dietary fat plays many critical roles in the body, such
as providing
essential fatty acids,
fat-soluble vitamins, and
energy
serves structural functions in hormones and in cells
a key factor in how foods taste
absorbs the essence of spices and flavors -- allows
people to experience their full aroma
Not only carry flavor-- also determines whether a
cookie crunches or a muffin
5. Since the 1970s, nutrition scientists researched the effects of
diet on chronic diseases
Eating a diet lower in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol --
help prevent or delay the development of some serious
illnesses, such as certain cancers and heart disease
Most government health agencies and professional health
organizations encourage people five years old and older;
eat a diet with ‹ 30 percent of total calories from fat, and
‹ 10 percent of that from saturated fat
Consumers are concerned about nutrition
But taste is the key driver behind food selection for most
people
Many consumers still think that less fat means less taste
6. Fat substitutes are ingredients that mimic one or more of the roles of fat in
a food
Fat substitute substance used to replace dietary fat in the manufacture of
foods
Provide the sensory and functional qualities normally provided by fat.
For example,
fat provides moistness in baked goods
texture in ice cream, and
crispiness in potato chips
fat --so many diverse functions in foods--impossible to replace it with a
single compound or process
The ingredients depend--how a food product will be eaten or prepared.
Not all fat-substitute ingredients --stable when heated, so the type of fat
substitute used in a fat-free salad dressing may not work well in a muffin
mix
7. Categories of Fat Substitutes
Fat substitutes can be divided
into 3 categories;
Sugar-based fat substitutes
Protein-based fat substitutes
Fat-based fat substitutes
8. e.g. dextrins, maltodextrins, modified food
starches, cellulose and various gums.
The ancestors of fat substitutes, which entered
the market in 1960s
Still the most widely used
Able to replace fat's bulkiness and moistness,
Unable to replace fat's cooking qualities
While 1 gram of fat yields 9 kcal, these sugar-
based substitutes only yield 1-4 kcal per gram
9.
10. Cannot be broken down by the body for absorption
Passes through the GI unaltered
Provides no calories
Produces the mouthfeel of real fat
Can withstand high heat
Concerns have been raised on its possible side effects
and its interaction with other nutrient absorption
As it cannot be digested, can cause abdominal cramps
and diarrhea
Inhibits fat-soluble vitamins (Vit A, D, E and K) and
carotenoids
12. Microparticulated Protein
Reduced-calorie (1-2 calorie/gram) ingredient made
from whey protein or milk and egg protein.
Digested as a protein.
Many applications, including: dairy products (e.g.,
ice cream, butter, sour cream, cheese, yogurt), salad
dressing, margarine- and mayonnaise-type products,
as well as baked goods, coffee creamer, soups and
sauces.
13. Modified Whey Protein Concentrate
Controlled thermal denaturation results in a
functional protein with fat-like properties. Applications
include: milk/dairy products (cheese, yogurt, sour
cream, ice cream), baked goods, frostings, as well as
salad dressing and mayonnaise-type products.
Other
One example is a reduced-calorie fat substitute
based on egg white and milk proteins.
Similar to microparticulated protein but made by a
different process.
Another example is a reduced-calorie fat replacer
derived from a corn protein.
Some blends of protein and carbohydrate can be
used in frozen desserts and baked goods
14. CelluloseVarious forms are used
One is a non-caloric purified form of cellulose
ground to microparticles which, when dispersed, form
a network of particles with mouthfeel and flow
properties similar to fat
Cellulose can replace some or all of the fat in dairy-
type products, sauces, frozen desserts and salad
dressings
Dextrins Four calorie/gram fat replacers which can
replace all or some of the fat in a variety of products
Food sources for dextrins include tapioca
Applications include salad dressings, puddings,
spreads, dairy-type products and frozen desserts
15. Fiber
Fiber can provide structural integrity, volume, moisture holding
capacity, adhesiveness and shelf stability in reduced-fat products.
Applications include baked goods, meats, spreads and extruded
products.
Gums
Also called hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids. Examples
include guar gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum, xanthan gum,
carrageenan and pectin. Virtually non-caloric; provide thickening,
sometimes gelling effect; can promote creamy texture. Used in
reduced-calorie, fat-free salad dressings and to reduce fat content
in other formulated foods, including desserts and processed
meats.
Inulin
Reduced-calorie (1 to 1.2 calorie/gram) fat and sugar replacer,
fiber and bulking agent extracted from chicory root. Used in
yogurt, cheese, frozen desserts, baked goods, icings, fillings,
whipped cream, dairy products, fiber supplements and processed
meats.
16. Maltodextrins
Four calorie/gram gel or powder derived from carbohydrate
sources such as corn, potato, wheat and tapioca. Used as fat
replacer, texture modifier or bulking agent. Applications include
baked goods, dairy products, salad dressings, spreads, sauces,
frostings, fillings, processed meat, frozen desserts, extruded
products and beverages.
Nu-Trim
A beta-glucan rich fat replacer made from oat and barley using an
extraction process that removes coarse fiber components. The
resulting product can be used in foods and beverages such as baked
goods, milk, cheese and ice cream, yielding products that are both
reduced fat and high in beta-glucan. (The soluble fiber beta-glucan
has been cited as the primary component in oats and barley
responsible for beneficial reduction in cardiovascular risk factors.)
Oatrim
A water-soluble form of enzyme treated oat flour containing beta-
glucan soluble fiber and used as a fat replacer, bodying and
texturizing ingredient. Reduced calorie (1-4 calories/gram) as used
in baked goods, fillings and frostings, frozen desserts, dairy
beverages, cheese, salad dressings, processed meats and confections
17. Polydextrose
Reduced-calorie (one calorie/gram) fat replacer and bulking
agent. Water-soluble polymer of dextrose containing minor
amounts of sorbitol and citric acid. Approved for use in a variety
of products including baked goods, chewing gums, confections,
salad dressings, frozen dairy desserts, gelatins and puddings.
Polyols
A group of sweeteners that provide the bulk of sugar, without as
many calories as sugar (1.6 to 3.0 calories per gram, depending on
the polyol). Due to their plasticizing and humectant properties,
polyols also may be used to replace the bulk of fat in reduced-fat
and fat-free products.
Starch and Modified Food Starch
Reduced-calorie (1-4 calories/gram as used) fat replacers, bodying
agents, texture modifiers. Can be derived from potato, corn, oat,
rice, wheat or tapioca starches. Can be used together with
emulsifiers, proteins, gums and other modified food starches.
Applications include processed meats, salad dressings, baked
goods, fillings and frostings, sauces, condiments, frozen desserts
and dairy products.
18.
19. Emulsifiers
Examples include vegetable oil mono- and diglyceride emulsifiers
which can, with water, replace all or part of the shortening content
in cake mixes, cookies, icings, and numerous vegetable dairy
products. Same caloric value as fat (nine calories/gram) but less is
used, resulting in fat and calorie reduction. Sucrose fatty acid
esters also can be used for emulsification in products such as those
listed above. Additionally, emulsion systems using soybean oil or
milk fat can significantly reduce fat and calories by replacing fat
on a one-to-one basis.
Salatrim
Short and long-chain acid triglyceride molecules. A five calorie-
per-gram family of fats that can be adapted for use in confections,
baked goods, dairy and other applications.
20. Lipid (Fat/Oil) Analogs
Esterified Propoxylated Glycerol (EPG)
Reduced-calorie fat replacer. May partially or fully replace fats
and oils in all typical consumer and commercial applications,
including formulated products, baking and frying
Olestra
Calorie-free ingredient made from sucrose and edible fats and oils.
Not metabolized and unabsorbed by the body. Approved by the
FDA for use in replacing the fat used to make salty snacks and
crackers. Stable under high heat food applications such as frying.
Has the potential for numerous other food applications
Sorbestrin
Low-calorie, heat stable, liquid fat substitute composed of fatty
acid esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides. Has approximately
1.5 calories per gram and is suitable for use in all vegetable oil
applications including fried foods, salad dressing, mayonnaise
and baked goods
21. A true fat substitute is a substance that physically and
chemically resembles triglycerides
and can theoretically replace the fat in foods on a
one-to-one, gram-for-gram basis
These are generally referred as lipid-based
substitutes
Fat mimetics, on the other hand, are substances that
can imitate the organoleptic or physical properties
of triglycerides, but cannot usually replace fat on a
1:1 basis
Fat mimetics are commonly called protein- or
carbohydrate-based substitutes
22. Copmlete Replacement:
Some fat replacers are used as "fat substitutes" or
"fat analogs" and replace fat in a food
Partial Replacement:
Others are used as "fat mimetics" to partially
replace fat and impart the sensory qualities of
fat (taste and feel in the mouth).
23. Many fat substitutes are simply old
ingredients used in new ways;
For example, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved
Polydextrose for use as a moisture-binding
agent in the early 1980s, but more recently it
has been used as a fat substitute
Carrageenan has been used since the early
1960s as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener,
but is now commonly used to replace fat in
foods, as is guar gum, which has been used as a
thickener for nearly a hundred years.
24. Some fat substitutes are newer to the food
supply, though they are made from familiar
ingredients
For example, microparticulated protein is
made from milk, egg, or whey protein
Other fat substitutes are new ingredients
made from combinations of basic molecules.
25. food additives;
In some cases, the FDA has approved fat-
reduction ingredients as food additives.
To be approved, food additives are tested
extensively to assess their safety and level of
use among different population groups.
Examples of fat substitutes approved as food
additives include carrageenan, olestra, and
polydextrose
26. Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS);
In other instances, fat-reduction ingredients
are "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS)
GRAS ingredients are made from common
food components and are considered by
experts to be safe
For example, many spices and flavoring
agents, such as sugar and salt, are GRAS
ingredients. Examples of GRAS fat substitutes
include guar gum and maltodextrin
27. Composition and Uses:
Fat substitutes are designed to mimic one or more of the roles
of fat in foods
The calorie density of fat substitutes varies from virtually none
to 9 calories per gram
Some fat substitutes can achieve the functional qualities of fat
with a smaller amount of the substitute even though the amount of
fat and calories per gram in the substitute is identical to
conventional fat
The specific fat substitute used in a food product may be the
result of its functional properties, but federal regulation also may
restrict the foods in which specific fat substitutes may be used.
For example, olestra can be used in savory snack foods such as
chips but cannot be used to replace fat in most other food
products.
28. The currently available fat-based substitutes are
chemically modified to affect absorption or to achieve
the physical properties of fat with a reduced amount of
fat
Olestra is a fat-based substitute comprised of
sucrose esterified with 6 to 8 long-chain fatty acids. As
such, olestra cannot be absorbed because it is not
hydrolyzed by pancreatic lipase.
Other fat-based substitutes contain short- and long-
chain fatty acids as mono-, di- or tri-glycerides to
achieve the properties of traditional fats with reduced
quantities
29. Labelling:
The labels on fat-modified products must adhere to the
Nutrition Labeling and Education Act criteria for the
use of fat- and calorie-related terms.
The Food and Drug Administration requires that the
labels on foods containing fat substitutes, eg, salatrim,
list the analytical fat amount on the nutrition fats label
with a footnote indicating the amount that is
bioavailable.
Products labeled fat free and low fat must contain <0.5
and 3 g of fat per serving, respectively.
Reduced or less fat may be used on the labels of
products that contain 25% less fat than regular (full-fat)
products.
30. The fat labeling claims do not provide any indication of
the caloric content of the food item. However, products
containing one third fewer calories or one half the fat of
the reference food may be labeled as light.
If 50% of calories in a food are derived from fat, the fat
content of the reduced-fat version must be reduced by
50%.
The terms calorie free and low calorie only can be used on
products with <5 and 40 calories per serving,
respectively, and reduced or fewer calories only can be
used on products that have 25% of the calories in the
regular product.
32. The carbohydrate-based or protein-based fat
substitutes, which seem to have little or no effect on
digestion, absorption, or metabolism of other nutrients.
Fat-based substitutes derived from modifying length or
number of fatty acids also seem to have no effect. These
substitutes include caprenin and salatrim, as well as
mono- and di-glycerides.
Within the fat-based group, the olestra, which may
affect nutritional status by its effects on absorption of
fat-soluble nutrients. In the gastrointestinal tract, fat-
soluble nutrients can partially partition into olestra and
be excreted
33. Factors that affect the level of partitioning
include (1) the degree of fat solubility (the more
fat soluble the nutrient, the more it will be
partitioned into olestra), (2) the relative
amount of olestra to nutrient (partitioning
increases as the amount of olestra per measure
of nutrient increases), and (3) the timing of
olestra and nutrient consumption (partitioning
can occur when olestra and the fat-soluble
nutrients are in the gut at the same time)
The affected nutrients include phytosterol and
carotenoids, with reduced absorption rates of
<10% and 6% to 10%, respectively
34. use of fat-modified products could help
children reach dietary recommendations, but
concomitant reductions in total energy and
vitamin E intake may occur
may facilitate reduction of the proportion of
calories derived from fat, but the effects on total
energy intake and body weight are less certain
may not be effective in lowering body weight if
other strategies for weight control are not
implemented
35. June 15,1990, issue of The Medical Letter, a professional publication
on drugs and therapeutics--no clinical studies have shown that
use of either Simplesse or Trailblazer leads to weight reduction or
decreases blood lipid (fat) concentrations
Moreover, some nutritionists are concerned that people who eat
products made with fat substitutes will feel freer to eat more of
other high-fat foods, rationalizing that they are "saving" on those
made with substitutes.
Another possibility experts anticipate is that people will eat more
fat-free double-dip ice cream cones, leaving less room for the more
nutritious foods they need
A more basic, as yet unanswered, question is whether nonfat
foods will satisfy as well as the traditional foods they replace and,
therefore, whether they will really help people reduce fat
consumption.
36. Some of the questions to be considered are:
If the materials are absorbed in the body even
in very small amounts are they toxic?
If they are not absorbed, how do they affect
gastrointestinal functions? For example, could
they interfere with the absorption of nutrients
or drugs?
Are the substitutes suitable for general use or
only for subpopulations of the general public?
37. In the nutshell individuals who consume a diet that is reduced in
fat and calories and includes use of fat-modified products have a
better overall nutrient profile than do individuals who do not use
any fat-modified products
The recent increase in the availability of fat substitutes in the
market raises questions about the cumulative impact of using fat
substitutes in multiple food products and the potential interaction
with medications and food ingredients
Within the context of a healthy dietary pattern, fat substitutes,
when used judiciously, may provide some flexibility in dietary
planning, although additional research is needed to fully
determine the longer-term health effects
38. 1. Krauss RM, Eckel RH, Howard B, et al. American Heart Association’s
Dietary Guidelines: revision 2000: a statement for healthcare professionals
from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association.
Circulation. 2000; 102: 2284–2299
2. US Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human
Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2000 5th ed. Home and
Garden Bulletin Number 232. Available at:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dga. Accessed May 16, 2002
3. McDowell MA, Briefel RR, Alaimo K, et al. Energy and macronutrient
intake of persons age 2 months and over in the United States: Third
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—Phase 1988–1991.
Hyattsville, Md: National Center for Health Statistics; 1994. Vital and
Health Statistics publication 255
4. Kennedy ET, Bowman SA, Powell R. Dietary-fat intake in the US
population. J Am Coll Nutr. 1999; 18: 207–212
5. Calorie Control Council. Fat replacers: food ingredients for healthy
eating. Available at: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/fatreprint.html.
Accessed June 27, 2000
