Low trans-Fat Spreads and Shortenings from a Catalyst-Switching Strategy

Low trans fatty acid basestocks suitable for blending with liquid oils to make spreads and shortenings are prepared by using a two-step hydrogenation process. The first step uses a nickel catalyst to hydrogenate soybean, canola, high-oleic sunflower, and high-oleic safflower oils to a predetermined iodine value. At this point in the reaction, the second step commenced. Addition of a platinum catalyst at 80 °C and 73 psi hydrogen pressure allowed for hydrogenation to proceed to iodine values of 40–50. These products had 11–18% trans fatty acid content. These were then blended with soybean oil (5–50% basestock) to give products with bulk properties similar to commercial spreads and shortenings but with about one third the levels of trans fat. Names are necessary to report factually an available data: the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.