Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composition comprising the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) comprises: providing a mixture comprising cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in which one of the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers is present in a first weight ratio X of at least 1.3:1 with respect to the other isomer; and subjecting the mixture to crystallization to form a composition comprising the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers in which one of the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers is present at a second weight ratio Y with respect to the other isomer, wherein Y is greater than X.

Abstract: A method of producing a refined, bleached and deodorised vegetable oil comprises degumming a vegetable oil, bleaching the degummed oil and deodorising the bleached oil, wherein the degumming, bleaching and deodorising conditions are selected to reduce the content of 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol and esters thereof in the deodorised oil to less than 8 ppm.

Abstract: A process for interesterifying a vegetable oil comprises treating the vegetable oil by contacting the vegetable oil with a natural adsorbent to give a pH in the range of from 6 to 8, separating the oil from the adsorbent and reacting the treated oil in the presence of an enzymatic catalyst for interesterification.

Abstract: A fat blend comprises: (i) a first fat having a solid fat content at 25° C. of at least 75% and comprising combined SOS and SSO fats in an amount of greater than 86% by weight, wherein S is saturated fatty acid having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms and O is oleic acid; and (ii) a second fat having a SOS content of greater than 75% by weight and a StOSt content of greater than 70% by weight. The fat blend has a solid fat content at 20° C. of greater than 80% and a solid fat content at 35° C. of less than 5%. The fat blend is useful as a cocoa butter replacer.

Abstract: A process for preparing a triglyceride composition comprising from 50 to 80% by weight StOSt and from 5 to 20% by weight StOO comprises reacting triolein with stearic acid in the presence of a 1,3-specific lipase from Rhizopus oryzae to form interesterified glycerides and fractionating the interesterified triglycerides.

Abstract: A process for refining a triglyceride oil comprises:—providing a triglyceride oil;—bleaching the oil in the presence of an added antioxidant in a first bleaching step;—bleaching the oil in a second bleaching step; and—deodorizing the bleached oil, wherein the antioxidant comprises a rosemary extract.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a material comprising conjugated isomers of a polyunsaturated fatty acid comprises: treating a first fatty acid mixture comprising saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of ethanol to form (i) a solid fraction and (ii) a liquid fraction comprising a second fatty acid mixture, wherein the second fatty acid mixture has a higher molar ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acids to total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids than the first fatty acid mixture; separating the solid fraction and the liquid fraction; and subjecting the second fatty acid mixture or a derivative or reaction product thereof to treatment with a base in the presence of a solvent, to form conjugated isomers of at least some of the polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for producing a composition comprising at least 3% by weight of total tocopherols and tocotrienols comprises: providing a product obtained from palm oil comprising tocopherols and tocotrienols, together with free fatty acids and monoglycerides and diglycerides of fatty acids; hydrolysing at least part of the monoglycerides and diglycerides with a lipase to form the corresponding free fatty acids; removing at least part of the free fatty acids after hydrolysis; and recovering a composition comprising a higher level of tocopherols and tocotrienols than are present in the product obtained from palm oil.

Abstract: A process for the production of a composition comprising 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl glyceride (OPO) comprises: providing one or more palm oil stearin fractions comprising tripalmitoyl glyceride and having an iodine value between about 18 and about 40; interesterifying the one or more palm oil stearin fractions to form a randomly interesterified palm oil stearin; subjecting the randomly interesterified palm oil stearin to enzymic transesterification with oleic acid or a non-glyceride ester thereof using an enzyme having selectivity for the 1- and 3-positions of a glyceride; and separating palmitic acid or palmitic non-glyceride esters from the product obtained in (iii) to form a composition comprising OPO glyceride.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a composition comprising the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) comprises: providing a mixture comprising cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in which one of the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers is present in a first weight ratio X of at least 1.3:1 with respect to the other isomer; and subjecting the mixture to crystallisation to form a composition comprising the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers in which one of the cis9, trans11 and trans10, cis12 isomers is present at a second weight ratio Y with respect to the other isomer, wherein Y is greater than X.

Abstract: process for the preparation of a material comprising conjugated isomers of a polyunsaturated fatty acid comprises: treating a first fatty acid mixture comprising saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of ethanol to form (i) a solid fraction and (ii) a liquid fraction comprising a second fatty acid mixture, wherein the second fatty acid mixture has a higher molar ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acids to total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids than the first fatty acid mixture; separating the solid fraction and the liquid fraction; and subjecting the second fatty acid mixture or a derivative or reaction product thereof to treatment with a base in the presence of a solvent, to form conjugated isomers of at least some of the polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for producing a conjugated di- or poly- unsaturated fatty acid having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, or a salt or ester thereof, comprises reacting a non-conjugated free fatty acid, or a salt or ester thereof, with a base in the presence of a solvent comprising a monohydric alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 120° C. to 200° C. in the presence of water in an amount of at least 4% by weight based on alcohol.

Abstract: A process for producing a conjugated di- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, or a salt or ester thereof, comprises reacting a non-conjugated free fatty acid, or a salt or ester thereof with a base in the presence of a solvent comprising a monohydric alcohol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature of from 120° C. to 200° C. in the presence of water in an amount of at least 4% by weight based on alcohol.