zxcvbob wrote:
> James Silverton wrote:
>> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I'd never heard of this before. The escolar is a fish
>>> prized for its richness (compared to foie gras),
>>> but can cause severe diarrhea is eaten in more than
>>> a small amount.
>>>
>>> http://www.seafoodbusiness.com/archi...04/product.asp
>>>
>>> http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag... 0C0A96F958260
>>>
>>
>> I don't intend to examine the URLs but, addressing the subject, what's
>> fat-free about escolar? "Rich" is another word for fatness anyway.
>> Escolar has got the most oil of any mackarel or (possibly any fish.)
>> It is banned from commerce in Japan for precisely that reason: the
>> laxative effect of the oil. I can vouch for the runs because I still
>> remember the effect of two small pieces, said to be "white tuna", in a
>> sashimi platter two years ago. By the way, it's consumption is
>> discouraged in the US but it is not banned and I hate to say it but it
>> was delicious. I don't intend to try again.
>>
>>
>
>
> The particular oil it contains is nondigestible (that's the problem.)
> Therefore it has no calories.

Ah, so that's it! A bit of word-play on "fat-free!"
The fish is by no means fat-free! Its flesh contains a lot of
fat/oil/waxy esters (18-21%), which makes it "rich", but the fats cannot
be digested, and so consuming it produces much the same results as would
consuming mineral oil (also "fat-free")! Thanks for explaining it.