Is Olean the Same as Olestra? The Definitive Answer
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                In 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a synthetic fat for use in savory snacks. This ingredient, designed to add taste and texture without calories, is known chemically as olestra, but many consumers know it by its brand name. Is Olean the same as olestra? The short answer is yes, Olean is the trade name used for the chemical compound olestra, developed by Procter & Gamble.