Dangers From Fat Substitute

Henry Miller may be right that Americans are “fatsos” (“FDA Fails to Give Olestra Fair Weight,” Opinion, Feb. 4). But he is wrong in concluding that eating foods containing the fat substitute Olestra is an important means of preventing obesity and heart disease.

Small amounts of Olestra reduce the body’s absorption of carotenoids, which may help prevent eye and other diseases. That’s why University of Hawaii cancer researcher John Bertram (not the Center for Science in the Public Interest, as Miller charged) wrote that Olestra would constitute a “public health time bomb.”

Procter & Gamble’s pre-approval studies proved that Olestra causes diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Not surprisingly, the FDA has received almost 20,000 complaints from people who believe they suffered gastrointestinal problems due to Olestra. That is more complaints to the FDA than from all other food additives combined.

Incredibly, Miller recommends elimination of the “may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools” label from Olestra-containing packages. If anything, that notice should be strengthened.

MICHAEL F. JACOBSON PhD

Executive Director

Center for Science in the

Public Interest, Washington