French hydrocolloids maker Colloids Naturels International has launched Equacia, a new nutritional texturiser, in a bid to cash in on the fast growing fat replacement market. A blend of wheat and acacia gum fibres, Equacia serves as a thickener, stabiliser, water binder, fat replacer and mouthfeel enhancer. However, it also has important nutritional qualities, containing soluble fibres with a prebiotic effect and insoluble fibres for their bulking effect.