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 Top: Generic 2D structure of olestra, where R = H or fatty acid group, C(O)CnHm Bottom: Stereoscopic animation of a representative olestra molecule with 8 unsaturated fatty acid groups | |
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| Trade names | Olean |
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| Formula | C n+12H 2n+22O 13 (where fatty acids are saturated) |
| Molar mass | Variable |
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Olestra (also known by its brand name Olean) is a fat substitute food additive that adds no metabolizable calories to products. It has been used in the preparation of otherwise high-fat foods, thereby lowering or eliminating their fat content.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved olestra for use in the US as a replacement for fats and oils in prepackaged ready-to-eat snacks in 1996,[2] concluding that such use "meets the safety standard for food additives, reasonable certainty of no harm".[3]: 46399 In the late 2000s, olestra lost popularity due to supposed side effects and is largely phased out, but products containing the ingredient are available in some countries.[citation needed] As of 2024, no products using olestra are sold in the United States.[citation needed]