The substance, named ‘olestra,’ is a fat substitute that contains no calories or actual fat.

Consumer groups, however, call olestra a “nutrient-robbing blob.” Apparently, the substance absorbs important vitamins as it passes through the body. Moreover, it has super-laxative tendencies.

But proponents claim that vitamin stripping and gastrointestinal discomfort only occur if olestra-based products are ingested with other foods.

What is so amazing about this is the belief that actively engineering products, and only marginally practical, are good things.

Creating synthetic substitutes that alleviate the problems of our often obsessive behavior is hardly a way to solve them. Maybe it would be better to control how we consume, instead of what we consume.