This all sounds very good. Almost too good I believe. Again, another bi-product of Americas over produced agriculture industry from which a product is made. Lets wait 5 years until all the health warnings are released.

Why then do we use such products on our most precious resource, the nations children?

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Wow, I would love to try this. Does anyone know any products on the market that currently use Z Trim?

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I certainly hope it isn't similar to that crap they tried to unload on us a couple years back that had the lable that warned of "anal seepage".etc...I can't remember what it was ,but alot of the snack food industry thought it was great .......

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ya, my experience with Olestra aka Olean (the one with anal leakage and severe cramping as side effects, as well as inhibiting the absorption of several vitamins) makes me rather skeptical, but still hopeful. given the recent test results about how fiber and excessive weight effect breast cancer, I that would make a great selling point. but yet I can't find any reports about side effects, which worries me.

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Well they're testing it on kids, so if it causes gigantism we'll all hear about it soon enough.

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The public relations director of Plum Borough School District and I noticed the story was being discussed on certain blogs and we agreed that we wanted to be sure to post to this one. We appreciate your dialogue and prepared the below statement. "Too good to be true" - we're getting that a lot lately. We will gladly participate in any testing anyone wants to do on it. It's just corn fiber, the same you've eaten your whole life. Please don't confuse it with other products, such as the machine lubricant now used to fry potato chips you were referring to. Z Trim will never require any warnings on its labels. Thanks for the forum. We invite your questions.
- Phil V, VP of Communications, Z Trim Holdings, Inc. (see statement below)

Z Trim is the real deal. It's true plant fiber and water, processed into a gel that works better than some of the more "chemical" additives used to create "light" foods over the past couple of decades. Foods made with it taste like the full fat verisons. A breakthrough, in the true sense. Oprah's physician, Dr. Mehmet Oz, notes that it will "eventually change the way we eat" on page 90 of his current #1 best seller. Less fat, same taste, and no worries.


Plum Borough School District's Food Service Department diligently seeks ways to provide students with healthy food choices while enhancing nutritional integrity and taste. Z Trim offers the district an opportunity to facilitate these practices without compromising student safety or taste.
Z Trim replaces questionable additives and fat with non-allergenic, no-caloric corn fiber. The Z Trim in the mayonnaise served by the Plum Borough School District is corn fiber. Any registered dietitian or medical professional who undertakes a qualified review of Z Trim will acknowledge that the use of the Z Trim corn fiber gel in place of any amount of more questionable additives such as fat and chemical fat substitutes such as hydrogenated oils, certain gums, and oil alternatives previously used for non-food purposes, is a significant and sensible step forward in nutrition. Both the Plum Borough School District and Z Trim are proud to actively and successfully take steps to replace such ingredients in our foods with true plant fiber and water (Z Trim).

While in the past the food industry formulated lighter foods by adding chemicals and ingredient substitutions that weren't food based, Z Trim is a food-based solution that works to reduce fats while leaving taste in tact. Those in the food industry and the food service industry that share concerns over the proliferation of questionable additives are increasingly turning to Z Trim to provide a more nutritious approach to the reduction of unnecessary fats and chemicals without taking away from taste.

We understand there are some skeptics afoot who have not tried it and may not buy-in immediately, but that is to be expected with any breakthrough.

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Thanks for the forum. Z Trim is the real deal. And no, it's not anything like that machine oil lubricant currently being used to fry chips in; we'll never warrant a warning label on our products. It's just corn fiber; true plant fiber and water, processed into a gel that works better than some of the more "chemical" additives used to create "light" foods over the past couple of decades. Foods made with it taste like the full fat verisons. A breakthrough, in the true sense. Oprah's physician, Dr. Mehmet Oz, notes that it will "eventually change the way we eat" on page 90 of his current #1 best seller. Less fat, same taste, and no worries.

But because we like your blog so much, the public relations director of Plum Borough School District and I wanted to be sure to prepare and post and prepared the below statement. "Too good to be true" - we're getting that a lot lately. Thanks for the forum and best to all...

- Phil V, VP of Communications, Z Trim Holdings, Inc.

Plum Borough School District's Food Service Department diligently seeks ways to provide students with healthy food choices while enhancing nutritional integrity and taste. Z Trim offers the district an opportunity to facilitate these practices without compromising student safety or taste.
Z Trim replaces questionable additives and fat with non-allergenic, no-caloric corn fiber. The Z Trim in the mayonnaise served by the Plum Borough School District is corn fiber. Any registered dietitian or medical professional who undertakes a qualified review of Z Trim will acknowledge that the use of the Z Trim corn fiber gel in place of any amount of more questionable additives such as fat and chemical fat substitutes such as hydrogenated oils, certain gums, and oil alternatives previously used for non-food purposes, is a significant and sensible step forward in nutrition. Both the Plum Borough School District and Z Trim are proud to actively and successfully take steps to replace such ingredients in our foods with true plant fiber and water (Z Trim).

While in the past the food industry formulated lighter foods by adding chemicals and ingredient substitutions that weren't food based, Z Trim is a food-based solution that works to reduce fats while leaving taste in tact. Those in the food industry and the food service industry that share concerns over the proliferation of questionable additives are increasingly turning to Z Trim to provide a more nutritious approach to the reduction of unnecessary fats and chemicals without taking away from taste.

We understand there are some skeptics afoot who have not tried it and may not buy-in immediately, but that is to be expected with any breakthrough.

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Kudos, Phil for joining in at the blog's comments. I'd be interested in trying Z Trim, and I'm guessing, but I think a lot of readers here might also. Why not try a free sample offer to SlashFood readers who email in with a code, to create some good will and perhaps help sales? I'm surprised more companies aren't interacting with blogs in this way. Blogs are where viral marketing really works. Maybe the blog authors can make a fresh post if you offer something.

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What this company and the Plum Borough school board did is not only questionable, it is downright unethical.

And as you can tell by Phil's long "tag" he is none to embarassed to promote his company any way possible.

I am not against Z Trim (though I am skeptical), nor am I an advocate. But experimenting with an unproven product, and secretly adding it to the food without so much as parental notice is just plain wrong.

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First of all, let me offer a 10% discount to anyone ordering through this link going forward: http://www.ztrim.com/buyNow.asp?cc=slash

Via that link, your deduction will be automatic.

"None too embarrassed"? You betcha. Can't see why I should be. Obvioulsy, your opinions matter to me. So I hope you'll try it!

Now, let me just add that corn fiber is pretty well "proven" in the human diet, wouldn't you say? You've been eating it for a long time. And it replaces, in addition to fats from oil, etc. portions of other ingredients not likely on your grocery shopping list, such as (from a major "light" mayo label): modfied starches, xanthan gum, oleoresin, etc. Let's be fair. The registered dietitian at the school district removed those and other hard-to-pronounce ingredients from the diets of those kids, replacing it with the natural dietary fiber that is Z Trim. She, and other informed nutritionists like her, can watch out for my kids' nutritional needs any day. Did anyone notify them prior to their ingesting of those other ingredients? Nope. She's bringing back a more natural approach that tastes great.

Signing off. Thanks again, all.
Best,
Phil

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After reading the AP story on the school using Ztrim, I placed an order from their website for both the powder and gel forms. Three days later I was mixing Ztrim with my already lowfat mayonnaise, sour cream, cream cheese and butter. I don't like the fat free versions, so this way I can further reduce the calories and keep the flavors I like. I only mix it at a ratio of 1:4 since they are already lowfat. I really don't notice much difference in taste or texture. I did try a 2:4 mix of a package of regular cream cheese and it was fine on texture and just a little diluted in taste. I even experimented with whole wheat flour, Splenda and Hershey's sugar free chocolate chip cookies using Ztrim to replace half the butter and was surprised that my husband liked them! He wasn't just being polite, either. He only left me three cookies! The only time I noticed a difference in texture was when I microwaved a tarragon, Ztrim/Mayo and dijon mustard sauce for salmon cakes. It looked a bit like melted butter around the edges. A little stirring blended it and it tasted fine. I don't expect Ztrim to perform any miracles in weight loss. I just see it as a baby step to achieving my weight loss goals. I can use all the help I can get! I sent an email to their website requesting they post more recipes using whole wheat and was sent a reply that they would look into it, but suggested I try spelt in the meantime.

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My 13 year old son is allergic to soy ingredients as well as corn. I am thankful that he does not attend the school district that experimented without informing parents.

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Hey - get the facts. Blind studies show when participants were given food using Olestra beside food using regular oils, they could not tell the difference. When given modest samples to take home to eat, neither group reported digestive distress of any type. When given unlimited quantites of both products to ingest, both groups reported digestive gas and discomfort! Don't make a pig of oneself!
(An ex- Procter & Gamble employee)

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I think it sounds like a gimmick.

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Besides people who has it been tested on?

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To Diana Eley,
Let me just say, 'Uh, the children.' It's been said and even criticized for it. What are you talking about? Didn't you read this? Anyway, I think it sounds like a pretty good idea. I don't think that it will lead to any amazing weightloss, but I do think it will/could be a healthy way for people to do their baking and cooking without using straight fat. Yay for those who have brought us this new product.

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Whoa. Sign me up for some of that!

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okay, im going to school to be a dietetic technitian..and although i am just a scholar, i must say, most things unnatural prove to be unhealthy. I am skeptical to the idea, but if it works to keep america healthy, I MEAN HEALTHY, not just 10% body fat....then so be it. I would just say, eat a healthy diet, yes, with one cheat day a week, and work out...if you need to lose weight, cut the calories and shake your butt! veggies and fruits come natural to you when you've consumed enough of them! i suggest a diet high in fruits and veggies, with some meat, and a lot of legumes! Its not that hard people! step your game up and eat right... with exercise!
ps. read the book "Skinny Bitch" although a lot of it is unfathomable...there are certain parts that make sense, and put you on a path to weight loss!
-I hope this is helpful to people, I am just a student. however dietary plans have helped a lot of people!

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Regarding any post that criticizes 'testing' this product on school children: Consider the 'experimental' diet of junk food and fast food that parents willingly pump into their children and themselves. Be happy for any parent who is willing to seek out healthful food for their children.

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All those husks, bran, and different kinds of fiber give lots of people diahrrea. That is the "anal seepage" someone wrote about. If you have a super sensitive digestive system, you will not be able to normally digest this type of mixed fiber. It may go in your mouth smoothly.... but when it comes out the other end, it will be like an atomic explosion. Don't be fooled by this fake fat.

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