Scientists Make Low-Fat Chocolate Even Lower In Fat
Reducing Fat in Chocolate
Scientists have developed a way to remove more fat from chocolate. This may result in a lower low-fat chocolate hitting the market soon.
Rongjia Tao and his associates recently published their study,[1] which explained how they zapped the fat out of chocolate.
Chocolate manufacturers primarily add fat to chocolate as part of the production process, and not for flavor. Cocoa solids, sugar, and other solids, provide the flavor. Fat provides a way to not clog up the factory pipes used to process the chocolate.
The production process heats cocoa solids, fat and other materials to around 40•C, turning in into a liquid chocolate that is able to go through the production process.
When there isn’t enough fat in the liquid chocolate, the chocolate won’t be able to move smoothly. Presently, the liquid chocolate needs to contain around 40% fat to maintain its viscosity.
Cocoa butter has been the fat of choice to add to the production process, but its addition has become a health concern. Obesity is a rising concern world wide, which is largely due to the high consumption of fat.
Zapping Chocolate Reduces the Need for Fat
The researchers were able to reduce the need for fat by adding electricity to the production process.
Rongjia Tao studies the properties of smart fluids. Electric fields change the properties of smart fluids. It turned out the cocoa solids in liquid chocolate made it a smart chocolate.
Rongjia Tao zapped the liquid chocolate and examined its molecules underneath a microscope. He and his team discovered the cocoa solids flatten and line themselves in long chains. This caused the liquid chocolate to flatten and increased its viscosity.
Chocolate producers have been able to reduce the use of fat down to approximately 36% percent, an now this new technology promises to cut that by 10 – 20%.
Though the researchers have made a lower low-fat chocolate, we don’t know if it tastes good. The researchers say it tastes good, but the public hasn’t had the chance to taste the electrified chocolate and give its opinion.
