9 Common U.S. Ingredients That Are Illegal in Other Countries

OLESTRA (OLEAN)

Remember this one? Meet Procter & Gamble’s unique creation—a synthetic fat that first hit markets in the late 1990s. This fat substitute has been used in the preparation of normally high-fat foods such as potato chips, french fries, corn chips, etc. ‘It passes through the digestive tract, so it provides no calories,’ explains Toby Amidor, MS, RD, nutrition expert and author of The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook.

‘Olestra can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and gas—and symptoms can become severe, depending on how much is eaten.’ Amidor also notes that Olestra can reduce the body’s ability to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and several carotenoid-based phytonutrients such as lutein and lycopene. This synthetic fat is banned in Canada and the U.K., but readily available on our home turf.