Joint venture partners Princes Foods and ADM are developing a fat-busting diacylglycerol 'DAG' oil that could 'revolutionise' the edible oils category in the UK, according to Princes marketing boss Tim Jolly.
DAG oil diacylglycerides are metabolised differently by the body than other types of oil, he says: "The body stores less of the DAG oil as fat."
Last year, ADM finally got the green light from regulators to sell DAG oil in Europe after a three-year struggle for approval under the European Novel Food Regulation.
Despite opposition from Spain, Portugal and Denmark, the European Commission authorised ADM to sell the oil in the EU provided that the content of trans-fatty acids in it was limited to 1%.
The oil, which is marketed in the US and elsewhere as Enova, can be used as a cooking oil and as an ingredient in spreads, dressings, bakery products, yoghurt, health bars and drinks, said Jolly
"The problem for us wanting to sell it in Europe was getting the trans fats content down to 1%, which to be honest was a pretty arbitrary figure anyway. The Spanish olive oil lobby was worried that we were going to kill off their business.
"We were at 2% for a long time. But now we've managed to get down to 1%, so this is really a massive opportunity for us and the bakery industry. We can basically re-invent seed oils as a healthy option. It's incredibly exciting."