And the "Totally UnClear On The Concept" Award Goes To...

Ran across this article in the San Francisco Chronicle the other day. It's about "fat replacers" -- you know, stuff like Olestra, the fake oil Frito-Lay used to make laxative potato chips? It says that even though there are "concerns" about Olestra , the market for this kind of product is growing. And why? Greater demand for low-calorie, low-fat, and functional foods is driving demand for fat replacers, especially functional fat replacers. "Functional" in this case apparently means "does some of the things fat does" -- creating textures or crispness or browning or whatever -- rather than "functions nutritionally as fuel for your body."

But why is demand for "functional fat replacers" growing? ...(L)ow calorie and reduced-fat foods such as low-fat ice creams, spreads, and meat products are gaining huge popularity...

And why is demand for fat-free foods growing? Demand for fat-free foods is forecast to grow steadily, buoyed by increasing preference for healthier low carbohydrate diets. Huh? Healthier than what?! This is especially inexplicable in light of the fact that there is a whole class of carbohydrate-based fat replacers. Um... no thanks. I found myself wondering if this was a misprint.

This is nothing short of bizarre. I very much hope that no one reading this feels that somehow replacing animal fats and other natural fats in traditional low carb foods somehow makes for a "healthier" low carb diet.