Olean, the product name for Olestra, is a fat free cooking oil developed by Proctor and Gamble. Despite being fat free it tastes and acts like regular cooking oil. It is currently approved by the FDA for use in salty snacks.
History ofOlean: Olean was accidentally invented in 1968 by researchers F. Mattson and R. Volpenhein. Mattson and Volpenhein were trying to find a fat that would be easily digested by premature babies when they stumbled upon Olean. While a fat free cooking oil seemed like a miracle product, the FDA was hesitant to approve it because they were worried it would encourage the eating of foods low in nutrition. In addition, they were worried because Olean seemed to cause diarrhea in some of the people who consumed it. Because of these issues and various bureaucratic issues it was not until January 24, 1996 that Olean was approved as a food additive. Even then it was only approved for use in savory foods, like chips and crackers. Currently, Proctor and Gamble is trying to get it approved for use in boxed cookies. Until this addition is approved by the FDA it will only be used in salty snacks. It can currently be found in “fat-free” chips produced by Pringles, Lays, Ruffles, and Tostitos.
How it works: Olean is considered fat free because our bodies cannot absorb or digest it. We cannot absorb or digest it because the molecules of Olean are too big to be metabolized by the enzymes and bacteria a person’s stomach.
Safety Concerns: At one point all Olean products had to carry the warning label “This Product Contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added.” However, the FDA removed this label in 2003 stating that they had “conducted a scientific review of several post-market studies submitted by P&G;, as well as adverse event reports submitted by P&G; and the Center for Science in the Public Interest” and “concluded that the label statement was no longer warranted.” The studies referred to in the FDA statement showed that people eating foods that contained Olean only had a minimal increase in bowl movement frequency. The second part of the warning label, the part addressing the interference with the absorption of vitamins, is no longer a major issue. This is because, while it is true that some vitamins dissolved in Olean will not be absorbed by the body, all Olean products make up for this deficiency by adding vitamins A, D, E and K. The important thing to keep in mind is that the FDA does seem to think that Olean is a safe product, but they have received over 20,000 complaints about the product so if you react poorly to foods with Olean in them you should stay away from them.
