Olestra :: essays research papers

Olestratechnically speaking, it was to be the something that was supposedly going to change the world. Stock analysts even entitle it as being the "single most important discovery in the history of the food industry", and would generate over a one million million dollars annually in sales becomming Procter and Gambles, the creators, best selling output. What is not to alike(p) about a product which replaces the fat content in previosly named rubble food such as potato chips? Apparently quite a bit.Olestra was first invented in 1968 as a way of increasing an infants ingestion of fat. This is when they stumbled upon a special chemcial which was actually the hexa, hepta, and octa-esters of fatty acid of sucrose. These molecules are so big and fatty, that the body cannot be metabolized by the body by enzymes and bacteria in the intestine, and as a result is not digested or absorbed. kind of of increasing fat intake, this chemical replaced it.Almost 30 years later, Olestra was in the end accustomed approval by the FDA to be used in food, however, with the direct of a warning label indicating the product can induse upset stand out and loose stools, as well as inhibiting the absorbtion of vitamins A, D, E and K. For a product that was supposed to be perfect, what happened? Studies conducted prior, first with mice, had somewhat alarming results which indicated that in step-up to the first two problems stated, Olestra can cause cancer. The reason for this is that the product interferes with the bodies inborn absorbtion of carotenoids which are found in fruits in vegetables, which help the body foment against cancer. Studies in humans showed that people who consumed 2 grams of Olestra per day had 15% deject level of carotenoids in their body than those who didnt eat them. A regular size bag of chips made with Olestra however, contain over 15 grams. Further studies showen that when given Olestra doses every day included in every meal, levels droppe d over 60%.Once Olestra hit the market, the FDA recieved more than 1000 reports of the food causing ill reactions, yet Procter and Gamble still maintain the product is harmless. To perhaps nobodies surprise, "fake-fat" containing products recieved sign high sales, but quickly plummeted due to both the media and word of verbalize on its affects, as well as the warning label and carnal knowledge high price.