ADM to introduce Kao's fat-burning oil

The American grain-processing giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) announced on May 21st that it plans to introduce in the U.S. a new cooking oil, which studies show it burns more calories than traditional products. The premium oil, already made in Japan under the name Econa by the Japanese consumer products maker Kao Corp. will allow ADM to push further into the consumer market. In a pending joint venture with Kao, ADM is planning to take the oil into U.S. test markets. A pilot plant should be operational by November, with hopes of bringing the oil to some consumers in less than 18 months. The oil is called by the generic name DAG, short for diacylglycerol, in the U.S. It prompts the body to burn fat before carbohydrates, ADM claimed. It is made from soy and other natural products, and is different from typical vegetable cooking oils because it contains about 80 per cent of diacylglycerides. Most vegetable oils contain lots of triglycerides, which is more difficult for the body to burn. "We think it's metabolised differently," said Gary Miller, vice president of science and business development for ADM's nutraceuticals division. "It prompts a higher burning of fatty acids." Econa has been on the market in Japan for two years now and has jumped to the No. 1 spot in sales, Miller said. The "light" and "clean-tasting" oil is used for everything from salad dressings to frying tempura. It is also used as an ingredient in some foods, such as canned tuna, he said. ADM claims its pending joint venture with Kao has the capacity to generate up to US$ 400 m in sales in both trade and consumer markets in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. The oil has been recognised by the Food and Drug Administration as safe for home cooking and vegetable oil spreads. According to Miller, ADM is to return to the FDA to seek approval for the product's use in food manufacturing. Source: Reuters​