Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 I am curious about " tested " shea, could you elaborate on this? And about the 2 suppliers that pay $400.00 to have their shea tested, what amount do they have tested, bulk, by the pound etc. and what do they test for, also do they test for bacteria, and what type of bacteria? I meant to post this question, but we went away over the weekend, and just now came accross the old post. Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 Well as I haven't seen a reply to this yet I'll got ahead and elaborate. >I am curious about " tested " shea, could you elaborate on this? And about >the 2 suppliers that pay $400.00 to have their shea tested, There are more than only 2 suppliers that have tested shea butter. I have some, our list mom has some, africansheabuttercompany.com has some, conissa has some, aromakaye has some, annelees, etc... these are butters that have been tested by the american shea butter institute and are graded. There are other labs that do testing of butter but do not grade it as the institute does. The main importance is tested, uncontaminated shea butter. If it makes the grade of A, well so the better! >what amount do they have tested, bulk, by the pound etc. Each person/company having their butter tested has differing amounts. It is quite subjective imho. The institute charges 400.00 for testing and for grading. Other labs are not quite the same. I believe it is usually a whole batch that comes in. Lets say that I import 1 ton of butter. I would submit a 2 kg sample for testing. It could be more, it could be less for other folks. >and what do they test for, also do they test for bacteria, and what type of >bacteria? The first test run is for fungi/yeast. This is most common and important. If the kernals have sat out in the sun to long and the fruit has rotted off or was boiled off there is the potential for microbial growth. It is recommended that the African producers bleach wash the kernals to avoid the mold. If there is mold then the butter is no good. (ick can you imagine). If the butter passes that then it goes on to be tested for the amount of cinnamic acid it has, amount of vitamin A it has, the percent of iron, percent of free fatty acids, percent of peroxide etc. Those are all indicative of the quality of the butter. High percents of FFA, iron or peroxide leads to fast rancidity. There is more, but my book is downstairs and I am going off of memory right now. Now, I know that Sharon in Tx. posted about the importance of tested butter etc.. as have I in the past. It is important imo because the last thing folks need to do is to spread mold on their skin or use it making creams and lotions and such. The institute is not the only facility that tests butter. However it was in connection with ASBI that I met Sharon (hi, waving) last August while we attended the Institutes Shea butter workshop with Dr. Sam Hunter. Hope this helped you out a bit. Margaret Certified Shea Butter Technician (hehehe) http://www.naturalindulgences.com _______________ Get tips for maintaining your PC, notebook accessories and reviews in Technology 101. http://special.msn.com/tech/technology101.armx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 Hi Margret was thinking about you the other day and talking to Carla about the little hole in the wall we went to for supper Well we did get the Shea butter in and it is tested Grade A and B Carla ask about you all the time My web is under construction so she handles the Shea the grade a we carry has a high 9.09 unsaponifiable value which you know is great Hope thing go great for you Sharon Shea butter tech saying hi to all soap buddy Margaret Helm-Duell <naturalindulgences wrote: Well as I haven't seen a reply to this yet I'll got ahead and elaborate. >I am curious about " tested " Shea, could you elaborate on this? And about >the 2 suppliers that pay $400.00 to have their Shea tested, There are more than only 2 suppliers that have tested Shea butter. I have some, our list mom has some, africansheabuttercompany.com has some, conissa has some, aromakaye has some, annelees, etc... these are butters that have been tested by the american Shea butter institute and are graded. There are other labs that do testing of butter but do not grade it as the institute does. The main importance is tested, uncontaminated Shea butter. If it makes the grade of A, well so the better! >what amount do they have tested, bulk, by the pound etc. Each person/company having their butter tested has differing amounts. It is quite subjective imho. The institute charges 400.00 for testing and for grading. Other labs are not quite the same. I believe it is usually a whole batch that comes in. Lets say that I import 1 ton of butter. I would submit a 2 kg sample for testing. It could be more, it could be less for other folks. >and what do they test for, also do they test for bacteria, and what type of >bacteria? The first test run is for fungi/yeast. This is most common and important. If the kernals have sat out in the sun to long and the fruit has rotted off or was boiled off there is the potential for microbial growth. It is recommended that the African producers bleach wash the kernals to avoid the mold. If there is mold then the butter is no good. (ick can you imagine). If the butter passes that then it goes on to be tested for the amount of cinnamic acid it has, amount of vitamin A it has, the percent of iron, percent of free fatty acids, percent of peroxide etc. Those are all indicative of the quality of the butter. High percents of FFA, iron or peroxide leads to fast rancidity. There is more, but my book is downstairs and I am going off of memory right now. Now, I know that Sharon in Tx. posted about the importance of tested butter etc.. as have I in the past. It is important imo because the last thing folks need to do is to spread mold on their skin or use it making creams and lotions and such. The institute is not the only facility that tests butter. However it was in connection with ASBI that I met Sharon (hi, waving) last August while we attended the Institutes Shea butter workshop with Dr. Sam Hunter. Hope this helped you out a bit. Margaret Certified Shea Butter Technician (hehehe) http://www.naturalindulgences.com _______________ Get tips for maintaining your PC, notebook accessories and reviews in Technology 101. http://special.msn.com/tech/technology101.armx Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2004 Report Share Posted July 8, 2004 Hey Sharon, >Hi Margret >was thinking about you the other day and talking to Carla about the little >hole in the wall we went to for supper Ya, but it was a lot of FUN! >Well we did get the Shea butter in and it is tested Grade A and B That is great! I hope you'll have a good write up on your site when it's done about the grading and all and how important the testing is. So did you import seperate batches that graded differently? Or did the A and the B come from the same shippment. I always wonder how that works out ya know. I am happy for you that you have found a source for good butter. >Carla ask about you all the time Tell her I said " hi " and I should give her a call or email. I told her I would test some of her fo's in soy candles. I took a hiatus from candle making till we moved and am now getting going again. >My web is under construction so she handles the Shea >the grade a we carry has a high 9.09 unsaponifiable value which you know is >great Good luck with the web site. And yes, the 9.09 unsap is very good!! I may have to buy some from you. hehehe >Hope thing go great for you >Sharon >Shea butter tech >saying hi >to all soap buddy Thanks, and same to you! Margaret _______________ Check out the latest news, polls and tools in the MSN 2004 Election Guide! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 9, 2004 Report Share Posted July 9, 2004 HI Margret do you import your Shea butter your self of buy Thu some one here I am now making Shea soap for a large dist here in USA going real good cant tell a lot of different for Grade A & B but the color grade A is whiter been well filtered if you need any let me know great talking to you My DH and I went to the Feb meeting this year looked for you but not luck real interesting learn something new each time just how important it is to have your Shea tested or to buy tested Shea and how unsafe it is to use untested Shea butter.. hope to talk soon Sharon www.houstoncandlesupply.com tested unrefined Shea butter special Margaret Helm-Duell <naturalindulgences wrote: Hey Sharon, >Hi Margret >was thinking about you the other day and talking to Carla about the little >hole in the wall we went to for supper Ya, but it was a lot of FUN! >Well we did get the Shea butter in and it is tested Grade A and B That is great! I hope you'll have a good write up on your site when it's done about the grading and all and how important the testing is. So did you import seperate batches that graded differently? Or did the A and the B come from the same shippment. I always wonder how that works out ya know. I am happy for you that you have found a source for good butter. >Carla ask about you all the time Tell her I said " hi " and I should give her a call or email. I told her I would test some of her fo's in soy candles. I took a hiatus from candle making till we moved and am now getting going again. >My web is under construction so she handles the Shea >the grade a we carry has a high 9.09 unsaponifiable value which you know is >great Good luck with the web site. And yes, the 9.09 unsap is very good!! I may have to buy some from you. hehehe >Hope thing go great for you >Sharon >Shea butter tech >saying hi >to all soap buddy Thanks, and same to you! Margaret _______________ Check out the latest news, polls and tools in the MSN 2004 Election Guide! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx Step By Step Instructions On Making Rose Petal Preserves: http://www.av-at.com/stuff/rosejam.html To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following link: /join Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Hi Malinda, > >Does anyone happen to know if the Shea Butter at Agbanga Karite is >tested ? Yes they test thier butter, just not using ASBI. hth, Margaret www.naturalindulgences.com _______________ Get ready for school! Find articles, homework help and more in the Back to School Guide! http://special.msn.com/network/04backtoschool.armx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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