Protein-based fat mimetic consisting of water-dispersible microparticles of zein, q.v., a hydrophobic prolamine derived from corn. Prepn: L. E. Stark, A. T. Gross, US 5021248 (1991 to Enzytech); eidem, US 5145702 (1992 to Opta Food Ingred.). Brief description: R. Iyengar, A. Gross in Biotechnology and Food Ingredients, I. Goldberg, R. Williams, Eds. (Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1991) pp 287-313; M. S. Miller in Protein Functionality in Food Systems, N. S. Hettiarachchy, G. R. Zeigler, Eds. (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1994) pp 435-465.