GROWTH METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE CALORIC AVAILABILITY OF FATS AND OILS

Several approaches are available for estimating the caloric availabili ty of fats and fat substitutes. The method described here is a simple bioassay based on the growth of rats as a linear function of caloric i ntake from either a control fat such as corn oil or a fat of unknown c aloric content. Excellent linear responses were found in the 14-day as say, and tests with cocoa butter, lard, and tallow showed agreement wi th previously reported values. The method is recommended as a simple m ethod for estimation of the caloric value of fats.