Abstract: In refining crude vegetable oils, there are certain economic and quality advantages to refining the oils with potassium hydroxide. Lower overall cost is achieved from reduced levels of soap and trace impurities in the oil, improved refining yield for the oils refined with potassium hydroxide, higher retention of recoverable tocopherols in the oil, gentler reaction with triglyceride, lower mono and diglyceride in the potassium hydroxide soapstock, the option to convert a by-product of soapstock acidulation, into a profitable co-product and eliminate acid-water discharge from the soapstock acidulation process.

Abstract: Olestra, a low-calorie natural fat and oil substitute, that is normally a viscous semi-solid at ambient temperatures is rendered substantially permanently liquid and pumpable by application of shear mixing from the semi-solid state, slow cooling from the melted state, or shear mixing and slow cooling from the melted state. Slow cooling inhibits the formation of the crystalline network that is characteristic of the viscous semi-solid form, and shear mixing further inhibits such formation. Olestra processed according to the invention advantageously returns to the semi-solid form after use in snack food manufacturing, thus providing the desired passive oil loss control. The invention greatly improves the practical handling of Olestra in fried food manufacturing processes.