California-based food tech company Lypid announced its entry into the US plant-based fat market with the launch of its patented alternative fat ingredient, PhytoFat, making it available for food service providers, retailers, and restaurants.

PhytoFat is made from oils and water, using microencapsulation technology, and is available in pork and beef flavors. According to the company, it delivers a similar taste and mouthfeel as that of conventional meat with a high melting point that aids in preserving juiciness during the cooking process. 

Claimed to be free of hydrogenation, trans fats, and artificial ingredients, PhytoFat possesses the ability to blend with plant-based proteins in extruders. Lypid has collaborated with several chefs to develop items to showcase the possibilities of the fat, which is said to offer chefs full control over the final product.

Analyst QuickTake: The B2B launch of PhytoFat comes on the heels of Lypid’s debut of its plant-based pork belly made from PhytoFat. Before this, Lypid partnered with Louisa Coffee , Taiwan’s largest coffee chain to offer a new range of plant-based burgers made with PhytoFat. Lypid is among several plant-based fat producers, other players include Yali Bio , Nourish Ingredients , and Melt&Marble , and as of May 2023, PhytoFat is the only commercialized product.