Hmmm--interesting!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7273281/Chocolate-bar-that-can-be-eaten-during-Lent.htmlChocolate bar that can be eaten
during Lent
A "healthy" chocolate bar which can be eaten during Lent
has been invented by scientists who replaced the fat with
water. Experts said the breakthrough could help tackle Britain?s obesity crisis
by producing a 'new generation of low-fat foods'.By Andrew Hough
Published: 8:00AM GMT 20 Feb 2010The low-fat chocolate containing almost two thirds water is said to taste identical
to regular bars and could pave the way for a new generation of “healthy” foods.
Researchers are also developing a low-fat mayonnaise and porridge which prevents
people from feeling hungry by staying in their stomach longer.
Experts said the breakthroughs could help tackle Britain’s obesity crisis by producing
a “new generation of low-fat foods”.
Recent figures showed that child obesity was rising in England – from 10 per cent
of children in 1995 to 17 per cent in 2008 – while almost one in four adults in Britain
are now considered obese.
In their research, University of Birmingham scientists discovered they could replace
a normal chocolate bar’s fat particles with calorie-free substances such as water,
air or gels.
The team, which are in negotiations to develop their research, created the
“water-chocolate” by then connecting water particles with cocoa butter crystals.
The bar, which contains about 60 per cent water, was found to have the same
taste, smell and feel in a person’s mouth.
Because the particles are so small, they also discovered the new “healthy” bar
could even melt at between 89F and 93F (32-34C).
“It is possible that small, stable, air bubbles designed to resemble oil droplets in
terms of their size and physical properties could be used to produce a new
generation of low fat foods,” said
Dr Philip Cox, who led the research.
A similar technique has been known to reduce a food’s salt content by up to
80 per cent because water is hidden inside oil droplets.
This means only an outer skin contains any salt.
The researchers said their new “super porridge” can last in a person’s stomach
for up to six hours because liquid changes into a gel after coming into contact
with stomach acid.
Prof Ian Norton, who is overseeing the research, said: “It remains there for
5-6 hours, so is perfect for between meals.
“We are well advanced with the work and are already talking to manufacturers
about creating products based on our research.”
Prof Norton told the
Evening Standard that the new mayonnaise tasted
identical to full-fat produce but with just five per cent fat.