Chapter 15: Selling the Ultimate Techno-food

Reading the policy background of Olestra was interesting, because I remember the "revolution" when it hit the market. My mother bought a bag of Nacho Cheese chips, and experienced the laxative effect after eating nearly the entire bag in one sitting. She says that the side effects she experienced after taking the Alli pill were much worse, though. My mother falls victim to health "phenomena" quite too often.
I admit that Olestra interests me from a scientific perspective: the idea that a calorie-free, macronutrient replacement can be created is pretty amazing. I must disagree with the principle of these food replacements, though. The theory that you can continue to eat crap and magically become healthy via robofoods is unrealistic, and even if initial success is achieved, old habits are often restarted. This leads to frustration and often leaves you more overweight than you started.
I'm also hesitant to trust lab-synthesized food replacements' safety. These molecules do not occur in nature, and the effects of long-term exposure to them has never been studied. Once again, I believe we should adopt the precautionary principle when approaching these pseudofoods.
A part of this chapter that really bothered me was the unlawful amount of control P&G seems to have over the policy process. Creating new patent laws to convenience them is beyond unethical. I have the urge to try not to consume any Proctor and Gamble products, but I suspect that would require that I start to hunt and gather.
What I think America needs is a psychological makeover. We need a better relationship with food. This overconsumption, guilt, compensation loop is getting quite old, and making us extremely unhealthy.