Fats and oils have taken a bad rap over the years. But, a diet without fat would be dull, and many favorite foods and flavors would be lost if fat was completely eliminated.
In addition to their function in high-temperature processing and in providing texture and mouthfeel; shortness in baking; and body in emulsifications and other formulations, oils and fats are powerful carriers of flavor. However, oils and fats have been maligned for decades with accusations that they are primary causes of obesity and cardiovascular disease.