NutraSweet Reports First All-Natural Substitute for Fat

NutraSweet Co. today announced what it called the first completely natural fat substitute and said it will allow calorie reductions of up to 80% compared with foods that contain fat.

The product, called Simplesse, provides rich taste and texture using protein from fresh egg whites or milk as a substitute for fat, the subsidiary of chemical conglomerate Monsanto Co. said.

Simplesse does not require regulatory approval, and products using it could reach the market within 12 to 18 months, Robert Shapiro, NutraSweet’s chairman and chief executive officer, told a news conference.

Shapiro said Simplesse can be used in almost anything fat is used for except frying. It can be used in products such as ice cream, butter and spread cheeses, sour cream and dips, as well as oil-based products like salad dressings and mayonnaise, he said.