Federal regulators met with NutraSweet Co. officials...

Federal regulators met with NutraSweet Co. officials to decide whether a full safety review of the company’s new fat substitute is needed. NutraSweet, a subsidiary of Monsanto Co., announced Wednesday that it had developed a new natural fat substitute that was low in calories and without cholesterol and said it would not require U.S. government approval because its ingredients had already been recognized as safe. A full-fledged Food and Drug Administration safety review of the fat substitute, known as Simplesse, could significantly delay the product’s appearance on grocery shelves.