1. A synthetic fat substitute made from vegetable oil and sugar that is not absorbed by the body and is used in some snack foods to reduce calorie and fat content.
Usage: trademark (Olean); food science/nutrition context

Examples

• Olestra was developed as a way to create lower-fat versions of popular snack foods.
• Some consumers avoid products containing olestra due to reported digestive side effects.
• Potato chips made with olestra have fewer calories than traditional chips.
• The FDA approved olestra as a food additive in the 1990s.
• Products containing olestra must carry a label warning about potential digestive effects.