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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which animal products and plants provide raw materials for fats and oils?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Three blocks of butter on a plate with a piece cut off, next to a butter knife and a blue checkered cloth in the background.
fat and oil processing Butter.

Raw materials for the production of fats and oils are derived from a variety of animal and plant sources.

Animal Sources

Animal fats are primarily obtained as by-products from the slaughter of cattle, hogs, and sheep. Common animal fats include:1
* Tallow: Derived from beef fat.2
* Lard: Derived from pork fat.2
* Butter: Obtained from milk fats.23
* Marine oils: Sourced from fatty fish and marine mammals, including whale oil.14

Plant Sources

Plant-based oils are typically extracted from reproductive organs, such as seeds, or the fleshy parts of fruits.56
* Oilseeds: Many crops are grown specifically for their oil, including soybeans, sunflower seeds, safflower, flax, sesame, mustard, and peanuts.26
* Fruits: Certain fleshy fruits are significant sources, most notably olives, oil palms, and coconuts.16
* By-products: Some oils are obtained as secondary products from other industries. For example, cottonseed oil is a by-product of fiber production, and corn oil is extracted from the germ collected during corn milling. Additionally, weed seeds removed from cereal grains can be processed for oil.16