Prompt Cast
The Rise and Fall of Olestra: The Controversial Fat Substitute of the 90s
TLDR Olestra, a fat substitute developed in the 60s, gained popularity in the 90s despite causing negative side effects like cramping and increased bowel movements. Despite warnings, Olestra was marketed as a fat substitute and reached $400 million in sales in 1998, but was eventually removed from products by the FDA in 2002.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode discusses the rise of fat-free and low-fat foods in the 90s and the introduction of O'Lestra.
01:44
Olestra, a fat substitute developed by Procter and Gamble in the late 60s, became popular in the 90s despite the knowledge that it would cause people to have bowel movements.
03:24
Despite the numerous red flags and warnings about the negative side effects of Olestra, Procter and Gamble still decided to get FDA approval and market it as a fat substitute in food products.
05:05
Polyester sucrose, or Olestra, mimics fat in taste and mouth feel, but cannot be metabolized by the body, resulting in no weight gain but also causing cramping and increased bowel movements.
07:02
Olestra does not metabolize in the body, causing confusion and weight gain despite consuming fat-free foods.
09:06
Olestra, a fat-free fat substitute, caused weight gain and potential vitamin deficiencies, but despite these negative effects, initial sales of products containing Olestra reached $400 million in 1998.
10:43
Despite the negative effects of Olestra, the FDA removed the warning label in 2002 and it is still used in certain products under different names.
Categories:
Society & Culture
