From the Manufacturer:
Coconut oil has been used for thousands of years as cooking oil particularly in Southeast Asian countries where it grows in abundance. In America it was even promoted in cookbooks of the 19th century. It is prized for its stability allowing it to remain fresh and not turn rancid quickly like many oils. Beginning several decades ago saturated fats received extensive bad publicity and their use declined until today very few people know about the potential benefits of including coconut oil in the diet.