Book excerpt: The three major macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, andlipids (oils and fats). This book is devoted to lipids, which arean important part of life for all of us. What are these materialsin molecular terms? Where do they come from? What happens to thembetween the harvesting of crops and the appearance of the oils andfats in different products in the supermarket? How does natureproduce these molecules and can we act on nature to modify thematerials to increase their beneficial properties? How importantare the minor products present in the fats that we consume? Sinceoils and fats vary, how can we analyse them? What are theirphysical, chemical and nutritional properties? How do the fats thatwe consume affect our health and well-being in both quantitativeand qualitative terms? What are their major food and non-fooduses? This book provides a broad source of reference on oils and fatschemistry for graduates entering the food and oleochemicalindustries, postgraduate researchers and nutritionists. It offers apoint of entry to the detailed literature.