(a) What damage is caused by raincidity?
(b) What type of chemical reaction is responsible for raincidity?
(c) State and explain various methods for retarding raincidity of food.

(a) Rancidity results in unpleasant taste and odour in a substance. Rancidity can destroy the nutrients in a food.
(b) It is the decomposition of fats oils and other lipids by hydrolysis or oxidation or both. So we can say that Oxidation Reaction is responsible for rancidity
(c) Various methods to prevent rancidity are:-

• Storing food in air tight container. By doing so oxygen supply can be limited and oxidation can be prevented.
• Adding anti oxidants  to prevent oxidation which slows down the process of rancidity
• Nitrogen packing. In this process food items are packed with nitrogen gas instead of air. This cut downs the oxygen supply and prevents oxidation.
• Refrigeration of food to prevent microbial rancidity.