Edible oil and fat production

Oils and fats occur naturally in a wide range of sources, although only around 22 vegetable oils are processed on a commercial scale around the world.

In terms of function of the raw material used, the following processes may be distinguished:

• production of oils from oilseeds
• production of oils from fruit pulp
• production of slaughterhouse animal fats
• production of marine animal oils.

Of these, soya bean, ground-nut, olive, sunflower-seed, safflower, cotton-seed, rapeseed (also known as colza oil in some parts of Europe) and mustard oils are produced in the largest quantities. Mediterranean countries produce 95 % of the total world olive oil production, estimated at 2.4 million tonnes per year.

Animal fats are generally “rendered” from slaughtered carcases using material fit for human
consumption; although some are also produced from marine sources.

Oils and fats are produced for human consumption and, in a smaller scale, for animal feed
production, medical purposes and for technical applications.

---

Reply to this article

All fields are required. Your personal information will not be displayed on our website. Hyfoma does not supply machines, but only refers to the companies that do. Most of the suppliers listed supply machines for the food industry, and do not produce food themselves.

Name:		Email:
Función:		Compañía: