Fake Fat's Future

In January 1996, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Proctor & Gamble's olestra, the non-caloric fat substitute now found in several snack foods. But foods containing this substance must carry a warning that olestra "may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools . . . and inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients." This warning may not be very enticing to consumers, so P&G would like the FDA to modify the label so that the public will believe olestra is merely a "breakthrough, calorie-free fat replacer that tastes great." This request may not fly, however, since further evidence of olestra's downside has recently come to light.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest recently released a secret study by Frito-Lay indicating that olestra caused "anal oil leakage" in 3 to 9 percent of those using it. Underwear spotting and a "greater variety of gastrointestinal changes" than normal were also found. Meir Stampfer, a scientist from the Harvard School of Public Health, claims that olestra could increase the risk of cancer and other degenerative diseases by blocking the absorption of various antioxidant and other vitamins.

Despite the warnings of olestra's critics, P&G has supporters in high places. According to an article in Mother Jones, of the 17 FDA panelists that voted initially to approve olestra, nine have links to companies that could benefit from its approval. Several scientific experts have publicly praised olestra without disclosing that they or their organizations are being funded by P&G. According to one of these experts, who also works as a paid P&G consultant, "Americans can feel confident in the safety of snacks made with olestra."

[Editor: Not to worry. P&G also makes detergents that can clean the underwear of those olestra consumers who suffer from anal leakage.] Based on information in: Mother Jones, May/June 1997