Abstract: A process for making synthetic triglycerides involving: (a) providing a reaction component selected from the group consisting of glycerol, a triglyceride, and mixtures thereof; (b) providing a fatty acid mixture containing at least 50% by weight, based on the weight of the fatty acid mixture, of conjugated linoleic acid; (c) providing an inert gas atmosphere; (d) combining the reaction component with the fatty acid mixture, in the inert atmosphere, to form a reaction mixture; and (e) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of from 180 to 240° C., at a heating rate of from 0.5 to 3 K per minute, thus forming the synthetic triglyceride.