MEMPHIS, TENN. — Stratas Foods plans to launch Superb Select 1020 shortening, which is made with soybean oil and has no hydrogenated fats on the label, at IFT18, the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meeting and exposition scheduled for July 15-18 in Chicago. The product lowers saturated fat by more than 40% versus conventional palm oil, according to Memphis-based Stratas.

“In the post-p.h.o. (partially hydrogenated oils) world, the new focus is on reducing saturated fats,” said Roger Daniels, vice-president of research, development and innovation at Stratas Foods. “Stratas Foods got ahead of customer demand in creating Superb Select 1020 shortening. Now that we’ve solved the non-p.h.o. baking issue, market demands for a shortening without hydrogenated fat on the label have increased. Products with lower saturated fats are the next big thing.”

As part of the shortening’s commercial validation, Stratas Foods has introduced it to customers for use. In some bread applications such as dinner rolls, the product improved performance, extending roll tenderness by several days.

“Superb Select 1020 shortening is the ideal product for those customers who do not like the flavor profile or performance of palm and who would also like to reduce the saturated fats in their final products,” Mr. Daniels said.