FAT REPLACEMENT UNDER ATTACK
By Adnews Staff
Procter & Gamble came under fire last week for its Olestra zero-calorie fat replacement. The company is waiting for approval of the cooking ingredient from the federal Food & Drug Administration. The consumer advocacy group, the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, held a media conference last week to air its view that Olestra causes gastrointestinal problems, loss of essential vitamins and other complications. The group vowed to launch a campaign to warn consumers about the product if the FDA approves it. P&G countered with a study that showed no GI problems, and said the CSPI study took results out of context and showed only an extreme example. P&G is negotiating to license the snack rights to Frito-Lay which says it is "waiting to see what happens." P&G expects FDA approval after a mid-November Food Advisory Committee meeting.