f

unctional Ingredients

Fat Replacers: Olestra

Functional ingredients are used in manufactured foods to provide other benefits in addition to nutrition or product quality.
Name: Olestra or sucrose polyester. Brand name: Olean is the trade name for Olestra. FDA approved use: By food manufacturers in savory snacks like potato chips, tortilla chips, cheese puffs, crackers, and popcorn. Calories: Provides no calories. Passes through the digestive tract without being absorbed by the body because it cannot be broken down in your intestine. Content: Made of table sugar (sucrose) and six to eight fatty acids. Possible benefits: Potential to reduce calorie and fat intake. Side effects: Prevents absorption of Vitamins A, D, E, and K and carotenoids. May

produce loose stools and some intestinal distress.

Rules for use in foods:

The food manufacturer must list Olestra (Olean) in the ingredient list and add Vitamins A, D, E, and K to the food containing it. The amount added is much less than the daily requirement. The package also must bear a warning label that says: 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.
Points to consider:
G

Intestinal symptoms appear to be less likely than initially reported. The type of symptom also varies a great deal. If Olestra products appeal to you, try a small amount of the Olestra-containing food over a few days. You may have no reactions.

FDA approval of Olestra is based on studies that lasted at most a year. Other studies are under way that examine the effects of eating Olestra for longer periods. Olestra does not appear to affect the absorption of certain drugs, like oral contraceptives. But this needs to be studied more. The effect of eating snacks that contain Olestra on calorie and fat intake depends on what else you eat and whether you are active. It may or may not help you control your weight or fat intake. Olestra does reduce the intake of carotenoids. These are compounds in food that keep your eyes healthy and may help prevent certain types of cancer. Its effect on the intake of essential fatty acids is not known. People who have intestinal disorders like Crohns Disease or colitis should consult their doctor before eating Olestracontaining foods.

College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension

Are snacks containing Olestra for you? To help you make your decision, answer these questions: 1. How overweight are you? Rate yourself on this scale: 1 2 very slim 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 very heavy

Prepared by J. Lynne Brown, Ph.D., R.D., associate professor of food science.

Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research, extension, and resident education programs are funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This publication is available from the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone (814) 8656713. Where trade names appear, no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by Penn State Cooperative Extension is implied. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R. Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania State University.

2. Do you have a medical reason (like high blood cholesterol) to reduce your fat intake? yes no

3. Do you have any intestinal problems or illnesses that Olestra might affect? yes no

4. Are there children in your household who dont need to worry about their weight and who might eat these snacks? yes If your answers were 1) 7 or greater 2) yes 3) no 4) no then snacks made with Olestra might be beneficial and appropriate to keep in your household. How expensive is it to replace your regular snacks with snacks containing Olestra? Complete question 5 to see if you can afford this substitution. 5. a) How many packages of the regular snack (12 oz., 16 oz., or 32 oz.) do you buy and eat weekly? no

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State University does not discriminate against any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building, University Park PA 16802-2801; Tel. (814) 865-4700/V; (814) 863-1150/TTY. The Pennsylvania State University 1999
5M1199ps31756

b) What is the difference in price between the regular snack and a snack made with Olestra for the size package you buy?

c) How much extra would you spend in a week buying snacks made with Olestra in place of regular snacks? (Multiply the number of packages of snacks by the difference in price.)

You may wish to visit the Olestra Web site: http://www.olean.com