Dr Mathew Attokaran (formerly Dr A.G. Mathew), the author, has carried out research in food science and technology for more than 28 years at the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, and National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum, (CSIR), India, before moving into industry. He was the President of the Essential Oil Association of India for two terms and has been the Technical Director of Plant Lipids Limited, Kolenchery, Cochin, India.