FDA approval took over 9 years and was the most rigorous review of any food additive in history. Olestra's safety was validated by over 150,000 pages of studies conducted over 20 years. The FDA approved olestra as safe for use in salty snacks, without restrictions. That is, the FDA determined olestra is safe for all to eat regardless of age or physical condition. However, a balanced diet containing sufficient dietary fat is always recommended for children and adults.
Some carotenoids are fat-soluble.
While some scientists have theorized carotenoids to be anti-oxidants which might have beneficial effects for heart disease and cancer, no scientific evidence has ever shown a direct link between carotenoids and health. And numerous studies have been done to try to show such a link. In fact, two recent studies have suggested that a major carotenoid may even promote cancer among smokers. Bottom line, the role of carotenoids in the diet is unclear. And the FDA has not allowed snack products to be supplemented with carotenoids, for that reason.