Shea Butter Grade Determination
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Thank you for calling upon the American Shea Butter Institute to refer you to shea butter buyers. Before we refer shea processors to buyers, the processor’s butter must be properly tested and graded for all to know its quality. The butter must prove to be high quality by laboratory tests. Buyers that call upon ASBI for shea butter suppliers’ desire laboratory proven Grade A shea butter only. We do not refer other grades. If you feel your butter is high quality and wish to be added to the referral list, the info below tells you how to submit samples for testing. Below you will also find some important information on the various grades of shea.
I. Sample size required for grade analysis is 1kg of shea butter,
II. Click here for recommendations on packaging,labeling and where to send sample
III. The cost of Grade analysis is 600 USD per sample. Payment for analysis must accompany each sample
IV. Samples arriving missing one of the items (A), (B), and (C), below are not accepted into the laboratory.
(A). You must include a one kg of sample shea butter
(B). Click here to download important document that must be returned with your sample Make sure you answer all questions in the document, then include the document with your sample and return to us. Without the information contained in the document we may not be able to complete your Grade,
(C). you must include the analysis fee with sample. Or make payment prior to sample’s arrival. See (E) below for payment methods
(D). Samples arriving missing one of the 3
items (A), (B) and (C), above are automatically discarded.
(E). Payment may be made by one of four methods.
1. Checks drawn on any US Bank.
2. US Postal Money Order is the only Money Order we accept.
3. Western Union money transfer.
4. Pay online;
Click here and scoll down to the very bottom of the page
When paying analysis fee Online or by Western Union it is recommended you make payment prior to shipping sample. To avoid having your sample declined at the laboratory
When you desire to pay by Western Union you must first send us an email; advising us you wish to pay analysis fee by Western Union. We will forward payment instructions. (My email address; INFO@ sheainstitute.com
Grades of Shea Butter: Shea butter comes in different grades. Grade A; Grade B; Grade C; and Grade F. When chemical analysis is done, the grade is determined by the presence or absence of various important nutrients. Grade A is the highest and best quality for personal care uses. Grade B and Grade C have lower Quantities of these important nutrients. While, Grade D and F are the lowest grades missing most of the important nutrients. Grade level decreases as shea butter is refined. During the refining process, up to 75% or more of the healing nutrients can be lost. The amount lost is determined by the amount and degree of refining. Therefore, you can expect ultra refined Shea Butter to have the least amount of the important healing nutrients. Refined and ultra refined shea butter is almost always Grades C, D and F. It is important to note that any shea butter found to be contaminated with one or more of the following, mold, yeast, lead, and mercury or rancid, automatically gets a Grade of F and is labeled not fit for human use. Shea butter not tested can not be assigned a grade. Failure to test allows shea butter not fit for human use into an uninformed community.
XI.- C Table of scores with corresponding Grade: See Below
Grade A Above 300
Grade B 200 - 299
Grade C 100 - 199
Grade D 50-100
Grade F Below 50
Grade A Spec. = Grade score above 300 without microorganism or metal contamination.
I hope the info is helpful. Your comments are always Welcome. we can be reached anytime for discussion on this topic at . Tel: 404 3776199. or email; INFO@sheainstitute.com
Kind Regards,
American Shea Butter Institute
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 3000
Atlanta, GA 30328
Tel: 404 377 6199 or 770 392 3341
email: INFO@sheainstitute.com
Website: http://www.sheainstitute.com
SBI Quality Score Card
Present or Absent:
(1). Lead
(2).Mercury
(3).Mold /Yeast
(4).Iron/Copper
(5).Bacteria/debris
(6).Free Fatty Acids
(7).Protein
(8).Peroxides
How does your butter score with these important tests
(1).Triglyceride Profile
(2).Fatty Acid profile
(3).Sterol profile
(4).Vitamin A
(5).Vitamin E
(6).% Nonsaponifiables
(7).Moisture
(8).Rancidity Value
(9).color
(10).Smell
(11).Melting range
(12).Butter knife
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