Chocolate Shea Butter Controversy

Did you know that fine rich European Chocolates are often made with Shea Butter?

In Europe and Asia, substituting cocoa butter with vegetable oils such as Shea Butter has been going on for the past 30 years. Now in the US, it's been less than a year since the debate started but chocolate manufacturers would like to do what their European and Asian counterparts have been doing for years.

Some chocolate companies say that's unthinkable however others are in favor of this saying that this will reduce the costs for both them and the consumer. Both the Chocolate and Grocery Manufacturers Associations are behind the proposed changes and insist there will be clear labeling.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not allow manufacturers to use Shea Butter in the United States a cocoa-butter substitute. For more information about this battle please visit the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA) website which has served as the premier trade group for manufacturers and distributors of cocoa and chocolate products in the United States since 1923. http://www.chocolateusa.org/

Purely Shea – The Leader in Organic Shea Butter Skincare
http://www.purelyshea.com/

World Chocolate Shortage and Shea Butter

MSN ran a story yesterday about the world-wide shortage of chocolate. They stated the following:

"A drought in Western Africa and unrest in the Ivory Coast -- the world's biggest cocoa producer -- has combined with rising consumer taste for cocoa-rich dark chocolate to raise concerns about a shortage in supply."

Now what does this have to do with Shea Butter you may be asking yourself. Well, Shea Butter is often used as a cocoa substitute when making chocolate. So if there is a cocoa shortage, the demand for Shea Butter will increase causing the price to go up.

Here at Purely Shea-The Leader in Organic Shea Butter Skincare, we will watch this closely and keep you updated about any Shea Butter shortages.

Click on the link below for the full story:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/WorldChocolateShortageAhead.aspx?GT1=9215

Steph,
Purely Shea - The Leader in Organic Shea Butter Skincare
www.purelyshea.com

Can you eat Shea Butter?? Sure you can!!

1. SHEA FRUITDuring the summer months, the Karite tree produces an abundance of green-orange shea fruit which is about the size of a large apricot. The deliciously sweet Shea Fruit is eaten and is very rich in Vitamin C. After the fruit is eaten, the remaining kernel is used to make Shea Butter.
2. CHOCOLATE INDUSTRYShea Butter is used extensively to make fine European Chocolates and is known as a CBE (Cocoa Butter Equivalent). Shea butter is used to replace some or all of the cocoa butter in confectionery applications.
3. BUTTER SUBSTITUTEShea Butter is quite popular in Japan as substitute for margarine and butter.
4. COOKING OILShea Butter is used throughout western African Savannahs as a cooking oil during food preparation.
Since Shea Butter is safe enough to eat, it is safe enough to gently moisturize your baby's skin as well as soften your lips during the winter. However, our products here at Purely Shea are for external use only.
Steph,Purely Sheahttp://www.purelyshea.com

Valentine's Chocolates and Shea Butter

So tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! Well while you are out shopping for that special someone today, don’t forget to pick-up some decadently delicious chocolates. YUM!

You might be asking yourself ‘What does Shea Butter have to do with chocolate?’ The worldwide availability of Shea Butter depends at times on the needs of the chocolate industry. To make chocolate, the chocolate manufacturers use Shea Butter as cocoa substitute in many chocolate products. In fact, Shea Butter's use in the cosmetic industry is a very small fraction of the annual overall Shea Butter harvest.

Here are some other great reasons (besides Shea Butter) to buy chocolate today:

* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't..
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

Steph,
Purely Shea – The Leader in Organic Shea Butter Shea Butter Skincare
http://www.purelyshea.com/
http://sheabutterblog.blogspot.com/