What Are the Different Fat Substitutes?
In order to create healthier alternative foods, many food substitutes have been developed. Fat substitutes, or fat replacers, were invented to provide the texture and flavor of fat without the numerous calories that fat typically has. Three different main categories of fat substitutes exist. They include protein-bases substitutes, fat-based substitutes, and sugar-based substitutes. Protein-based fat substitutes are extracted from whey protein concentrate. The concentrate is typically formed from a mixture of milk and egg whites. These substitutes cannot withstand high temperatures, and therefore cannot be cooked. Low in calories, protein-based fat substitutes yield only four calories per half ounce (gram) of food. The most common protein-based substitute is Simplesse®, which has been used in ice cream and many other frozen desserts worldwide. Trailblazer is another example of a protein-based substitute. It can be used in other creamy foods, such as butter, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
