Abstract: The present invention is a composition of matter comprising an edible, wholly or partially nondigestible low calorie fat material having a non-Newtonian pseudoplastic rheology at body temperature. In particular, at 100° F. (37.8° C.) the fat material has: (a) a viscosity of at least about 2.5 poise at a shear rate of 800 seconds−1, a viscosity of at least about 4.0 poise at a shear rate of 100 seconds−1, and a viscosity of at least about 15.0 poise at a shear rate of 10 seconds−1; (b) a yield point of at least about 2,500 dynes/cm2; (c) a thixotropic area of at least about 0.20×106 dynes/cm2-sec.; and (d) a liquid/solid stability of at least about 50%. The composition is useful as a substitute for triglyceride fats in low calorie fat-containing food products, and as a method for reducing serum cholesterol.

Abstract: A solvent-free transesterification comprising the steps of (1) heating a mixture of a polyol, a fatty acid lower alkyl ester, an alkali metal fatty acid soap, and a basic catalyst to form a homogenous melt; and (2) subsequently adding to the reaction product of step (1) excess fatty acid lower alkyl esters yields polyol fatty acid polyesters.