*Appendix II*
The Facts About Olestra
What the Experts Say About Olestra:
Quotes from Prominent Doctors and Scientists
- "Olestra = Mineral oil. I believe this is another hoax and deception being foisted
on the American people." Dr. Sheldon Margen, Public Health Nutrition, U. of
California. Berkeley.
- "Olestra would constitute a public health time-bomb." Dr. John S. Bertram,
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii (U. Hawaii).
- "This substance has the potential to do significant harm" Dr. Ernst J.
Schaefer, U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts
University.
- "We are concerned about the high incidents of gastrointestinal effects, ranging
from diarrhea to fecal urgency, that are caused by the consumption of modest levels of
Olestra." Dr. Mark Donowitz, John Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- "It would be inappropriate to approve the use of Olestra at this time." Dr.
Mark Hegsted, Harvard Medical School and former Chief of Human Nutrition at the Department
of Agriculture.
- "The bowel disturbances and impaired absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including
carotenoids are sufficient reasons to have serious reservations about this food additive
and to recommend that it not be introduced as a food additive." Dr. Ian Greaves,
University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
- "It is clear folly to introduce this product into the diet of children." Dr.
Herbert Needleman, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
- "There are too many unanswered questions remaining about the safety and long-term
public health consequences of Olestra consumption. Therefore, the American Public Health
Association does not support approval of Olestra at this time." Dr. Fernando Trevino,
American Public Health Association.
- "Even low levels of harm should not be tolerated when introducing a new product
into the food supply. For Olestra, the harm appears substantial. We would argue strongly
that the FDA should not approve Olestra for use in foods, nor should it be allowed into
the U.S. food supply." Drs. John D. Potter and Johanna Lampe, Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, Seattle.
- "The adverse effects of (Olestra) outweigh its potential benefits." Jerianne
Heimendinger, Cancer Research Center, Denver, and former director of the National Cancer
Institute’s 5 A Day for Better Health Program.
- "Olestra — even in limited use — can be potentially harmful to the
public. I do not believe that our society can afford such a risk (of macular
degeneration)." Dr. Norman Krinsky, Tufts University School of Medicine.
- "There is strong reason to suspect that the effects (of Olestra) will include
increases in cancer, heart disease, stroke and blindness." Drs. Walter Willett and
Meir Stampfer, Harvard School of Public Health (endorsed by 25 other nutrition experts).
- "These estimates clearly demonstrate that the magnitude of carotenoid reduction
demonstrated in controlled feeding studies of Olestra could potentially produce a large
number of deaths annually and major morbidity in the U.S. population. We strongly
encourage you (Dr. Kessler) to avoid submitting the U.S. population, including children
and pregnant women, to a massive uncontrolled experiment with potentially disastrous
consequences." Drs. Walter Willett and Meir Stampfer, Harvard School of Public Health