Scottish researchers produce 'holy grail' alternative to palm oil that could revolutionise home baking

Food experts at Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh say their new ingredient could replace palm fat in products across the baking sector, including cakes and biscuits.

Palm oil is one of the world’s most-produced vegetable oils, accounting for 40 per cent of total production. The product is used widely across the food industry in products such as cakes, biscuits, pastries, confectionery, ready meals and sauces.

Due to its composition, high yield and low production costs, the food industry has become increasingly dependent on palm oil, resulting in its over-cultivation and causing damage to the environment.

Up to 8 per cent of the world’s deforestation since 2008 has allegedly been due to palm cultivation, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The new alternative, ‘PALM-ALT’, may be 70 per cent better for the environment and includes 80 per cent less saturated fat, and 30 per cent fewer calories, making it a healthier alternative.

Catriona Liddle, head of the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU, said: "It's the holy grail to replace it and still have exactly the same end result in product – to taste the same and have the texture the same – and we've done that.

"We've put it through some special sensory testing to see if a panel can tell the difference between our product and traditional palm shortening, and they can't."

PALM-ALT is described as having a ‘mayonnaise-style’ consistency, and includes no added flavourings, sugar, sweeteners, preservatives or colourings. It is made from a by-product from the linseed industry, with added natural fibre and rapeseed oil.

Researchers at QMU say the new alternative can be produced easily at a global scale, and is cost competitive.

Ms Liddle said: “Palm based fat works particularly well in bakery products due to its composition, taste and mouthfeel. For example, it helps produce cakes, which are light, with a good taste profile, which has a pleasant mouthfeel.