Edible oils and fats: Origin, chemistry, production, health

Our April online webinar will be entitled ‘Edible oils and fats: Origin, chemistry, production, health’ presented by long-standing RSC Belgium member Dr Albert J Dijkstra.

 

Because edible oils and fats contain fatty acids that the human body needs but cannot synthesize, they form an essential part of the human diet. Fortunately, nature provides a wide choice of edible oils and fats. Albert’s presentation will discuss what oils and fats people used in distant times, how their supply has changed, and describe current production figures. The talk will also outline and explain the various processes used to refine the crude oils and to modify them to meet demand for particular properties. The final topic of the presentation will deal with health claims for various edible oil products.

 

Dr Dijkstra obtained his PhD in gas kinetics from Leiden University in the mid-Sixties and subsequently enjoyed a decade working for ICI in the UK, the Netherlands and eventually as a Senior R&D Project Leader in ICI Europa. He then worked as a freelancer in chemical market research for Charles H Kline before being appointed as R&D Director of the Vandemoortele Group in Belgium from 1978 to 1997. Since then, Albert has been active as a scientific consultant, author, editor, lecturer, and reviewer in the field of edible oil processing.