Glossary: fat substitutes

Synthesized substances created to replace fat in a variety of foods. Some products are made of fat-free ingredients, while others are fats that have been restructured so as to provide fewer calories per gram. The following are the products currently on the market. Simplesse, manufactured by NutraSweet, is composed of milk protein and egg whites. This all-natural fat substitute is very low in calories and cholesterol free. It's used in a variety of foods including frozen dairy products, yogurt, cheese spreads and salad dressings. Leanesse, a ConAgra product, is made from oat flour (Oatrim) through a heating-and-cooling process that produces a flavorless gel that imitates the texture of fat. It's used in foods such as frozen dinners and energy bars. Procter & Gamble's Olestra is a no-calorie, sucrose-polyester fat substitute composed of sugar and fatty acids and embodied in a molecule so large that it moves right through the human system without a trace. Olestra contributes the same cooking benefits (such as crispy french fries) and flavor as fat, but without the associated risks. It's typically used in shortening, oils and snacks. Salatrim is an acronym for 'short- and long-chain triglyceride molecules,'

From THE NEW FOOD LOVERS COMPANION, Fourth edition by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst. Copyright © 2007, 2001, 1995, 1990 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc.