Chemical and Physical Properties of Plastic Fat Products Sold in Malaysia

Five domestic and four imported Malaysian plastic fat products and their separated high melting point triacylglycerols (HMG) were analyzed for their chemical and physical characteristics. Chemical characteristics consisted of fatty acid (FA) and triacylglycerol (by TG carbon number) composition. Physical characteristics encompassed dropping and softening points, solid fat content, polymorphic crystal habit and DSC melting and crystallization patterns. β crystal habit was related to high levels of 16 or 18 carbon fatty acids in the HMG and high levels of TG48 or TG54 which are β tending. Domestic products contained very low levels of trans fatty acids; they were blends of natural fats such as palm oil, palm kernel and milk fat. Levels of the individual fats in the blends were estimated by means of FA and TG composition analyses. The content of solid fat, determined by the AOCS method, was much lower than that obtained by the IUPAC method. Texture at 23C of products, as determined by penetrometer test of the original materials, was similar for all products.