Fatty acid esters, such as the unsaturated fatty acid esters of sterols and/or stanols, are used as a replacement for a substantial portion or all of the undesirable saturated and trans -unsaturated fats used as structure giving hardstocks in edible foods such as margarines, mayonnaise, cooking oils cheeses, butter and shortening. Because of the similarity in the crystallinity and physical properties of the esters to those of the undesirable hardstock fats, the substitution or replacement contributes favorably to the flavor, texture and other sensory properties of the foods. Only the fatty acid portion of the phytosterol esters defined herein as texturizing agent is digested or absorbed with the sterol part being unabsorbable, thereby resulting in a reduction in total caloric uptake Furthermore, the phytosterol fatty acid esters reduce the absorption of both dietary and biliary cholesterol from the digestive tract, thereby lowering the blood serum cholesterol level, especially the LDL-cholesterol.
