Abstract:

Oils and fats are essential elements of the human diet. Therefore, there has been an increasing trend in cultivation of oil crops all over the world. However, the oil processing industry generates large amounts of by-products and wastes, particularly oilseed meals. These products were utilised only as feed until recently, provided that proper treatments are applied. On the other hand, since several studies have revealed attractive results about compositions and health effects of oilseed meals, many attempts have been made to evaluate them for different purposes including intended for human nutrition. Oilseed meals are generally rich in protein and bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, dietary fibres, and lignans. Hence, they are regarded as valuable vehicles for food fortification primarily to prevent malnutrition and improve human health. Furthermore, numerous products such as edible films, protein concentrates, isolates, emulsifiers may be obtained by properly processing these wastes and by-products. This chapter deals with the properties and uses areas of oilseed meals that have emerged in the oil processing industry.