SUMMARY: Lipid extracts were isolated from unripe and ripe banana pulp and peel and the fatty acid composition of the extracts was determined. Unsaturated acids, particularly linoleic and palmitoleic, decreased about 3‐fold in the pulp while more than a 2‐fold increase in stearic acid occurred. In general, unsaturated fatty acids decreased in both the pulp and peel during ripening. The peel contained almost 4 times more lipid than the pulp. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved