HUMAN NUTRITION

Detailed explanation-1: -Rancidification is a chemical process that involves complete or incomplete oxidation or hydrolysis of fats and oils upon exposure to air, light, or moisture or through the microbial activity that results in an unpleasant taste and odor.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fats and oils that are in contact with moist air at room temperature eventually undergo oxidation and hydrolysis reactions that cause them to turn rancid, acquiring a characteristic disagreeable odor. One cause of the odor is the release of volatile fatty acids by hydrolysis of the ester bonds.

Detailed explanation-3: -Oxidation of fats is caused by a biochemical reaction between fats and oxygen. In this process the long-chain fatty acids are degraded and short-chain compounds are formed. One of the reaction products is butyric acid, which causes the typical rancid taste.