Nabisco Takes Crack at Lower-Fat Nut

Nabisco Holdings Corp. is rolling out its much-anticipated reduced-fat peanuts, saying that 88% of consumers who tested them said the taste met or exceeded their expectations.

Parsippany, N.J.-based Nabisco’s Planters division, which has 38% of the U.S. nut market, said Reduced Fat Honey Roasted Peanuts have seven grams of fat per one-ounce serving, compared to 13 grams for regular peanuts. Calories are also down, to 130 an ounce from 160.

Lower-fat peanuts have been brought to the market before but were hobbled by poor taste. H.J. Heinz & Co. has a line under the Weight Watchers label that hasn’t fared well.

Planters Marketing Director Dave Van Vliet said Planters presses the nuts to squeeze out the fat and then builds back the texture with honey and slightly more sugar per ounce.

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