Plenish High Oleic Soybean Oil Offers Trans Fat Solution with Superior Performance

"High oleic soybean oil is a perfect fit for food companies looking to meet consumer demand for zero trans fat with a functionally superior oil that offers high oxidative and heat stability," Knowlton said.

08/06/09 The next generation of healthy soybean products from DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred will provide nutritionally enhanced oil with the highest oleic content in soybeans under commercial development. Plenish brand high oleic soybean oil will meet food industry needs for a soy-based trans fat solution with superior performance characteristics.

DuPont scientist Susan Knowlton presented Plenish high oleic soybean oil testing results at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Food Expo.

"High oleic soybean oil is a perfect fit for food companies looking to meet consumer demand for zero trans fat with a functionally superior oil that offers high oxidative and heat stability," Knowlton said. "Plenish high oleic soybean oil provides the stability and performance of partially hydrogenated oil without the trans fat and lower saturated fats."

Extensive testing of oil produced from soybeans in 2007 and 2008 confirmed that Plenish high oleic soybean oil contains about 80 percent oleic acid, the highest oleic content in soybean under commercial development. Plenish high oleic soybean oil is more than three times higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats than commodity soybean oil. The high levels of oleic acid also significantly increase the stability of the oil when used in frying and food processing applications. Plenish high oleic soybean oil also will provide flexibility to be used alone or in combination with other oils to optimize cost, functionality and taste.

Testing results also show that this soy-based trans fat solution has more than 20 percent less saturated fatty acid including 40 percent less palmitic acid than commodity soybean oil and 75 percent less saturated fat than palm oil, a tropical oil.

High oleic soybean oil is an attractive option for food companies because of the existing production infrastructure for soybeans and soybean oil. Soybeans are grown on more acres in North America than any other oilseed crop. The Plenish high oleic soybean oil trait will be introduced in the industry leading line-up of Pioneer brand soybean varieties. These varieties are on track for 2009 introduction in the United States, pending regulatory approval and ongoing field testing.

The Plenish high oleic soybean oil trait received Canadian regulatory approval in May. Pioneer completed U.S. regulatory submissions for approval of the high oleic soybean oil trait in December 2006. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed its review of Plenish high oleic soybeans earlier this year and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of reviewing the trait. Regulatory submissions for the trait are planned or have been completed in key soybean importing countries around the world.