How big an issue is shea butter and latex allergy?

[Primrose]

Thinking along the lines of label appeal, I was contemplating adding a little bit of shea butter to my standard formulation so it would be in virtually all my soaps except my castile.

However thinking about latex allergies which I understand shea can be a problem for, do you think this would be limiting in terms of customers?

Edit to add an apology to mods if this is better suited to the Business forum

 

[earlene]

For some forms of latex allergy, shea butter in skin and hair products does pose a risk. Not all people with latex allergies are negatively affected by shea butter, though, so it is hard to know for whom it is contraindicated unless you know each person's history.

My SIL has severe latex allergy, and I avoid giving her soap with shea butter because of that. Even though one would hope the proteins in the shea are no longer intact in the finished soap, it is impossible to know which oil the lye chose to leave alone to become the superfat. Even with a low superfat to start with, I don't really know how 'pure' my lye is so I don't know for sure that my 2% SF isn't really 4% or higher. So for me, it's just a matter of caution.

 

[CaraBou]

If you label your soap properly, those with shea allergies will have fair warning. Shea butter is a fairly common ingredient in soap, so most people with known allergies should be reading. If you're particularly worried, you could use two different formulations, and emphasize when you've included it (for example, call it "Shea Butter Soap").

 

[SaltedFig]

Raw Shea Butter does contain proteins (as does Cocoa butter) that can cause allergic reactions in a small number of people.

Proteins in Shea are said to be significantly reduced (destroyed/removed) during the refining process, so choosing refined over raw Shea may suit you for this reason.

There was an expert opinion paper published last month that you might want to look at (Proctor and Gamble initiated, on Shea proteins):
https://farrp.unl.edu/documents/OpinionsSummaries/2018_0626_Expert Shea Nut Butter.pdf

All that aside, as advantages and label appeal goes, by focusing on your own farm fresh ingredients you are already streets ahead of the average "luxury" soap.

Good luck with the launch! You must be counting the days now ...

 

[dibbles]

If there is room on your label, use it as a selling point. Under the name of the fragrance put a line that says 'hand made with goat milk and shea butter' or something like that. If I had a serious latex or nut allergy I'd read every label carefully. But, you know, some people...

 

[shunt2011]

I have a latex allergy , bandaids, gloves etx. (break out in blisters). But, I use shea (un-refined) in the majority of my soaps and have never had an issue. I can also use body butter made with refined shea with no issue.

I'm sure the allergy will vary from person to person, I label accordingly. In the years I've been selling I've never had anyone say anything. The primary allergy that's been brought to my attention is Coconut.

 

[Primrose]

Thanks all, interesting to know about the refined bit, mine is so that helps.

I am probably over paranoid about allergens etc

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

There was an expert opinion paper published last month that you might want to look at (Proctor and Gamble initiated, on Shea proteins):
https://farrp.unl.edu/documents/OpinionsSummaries/2018_0626_Expert Shea Nut Butter.pdf

Although the paper handily addressed Shea Nut and Shea Nut Butter/Oil as it relates to Nut Allergies, it did not address any latex allergies.

My daughter has a severe latex allergy and reacts to even refined Shea Butter in leave on products. At the time we discovered her reaction to Shea Butter, I had not used it in soaping and made the decision to not include it in my soap recipes.

It was only by chance that I discovered that Shea Butter had naturally occurring latex. We were trying to treat her hands with a Shea Lotion (over 15 years ago). She commented that her hands were reacting as if she had put on latex gloves. We hit the web and found out about the naturally occurring latex in Shea Nuts. It is not common knowledge to even those with a latex allergy.

 

[earlene]

Besides that, the article was written as it related to food and not as related to topical applications.

For the average person, one doesn't often think of types of allergies, like one often doesn't think of types of diabetes or stages of cancer, until it hits home in some way.

Latex allergies are also broken down into types.
Type I (IgE-mediated) latex allergy is severe and can be life-threatening.
Type IV (Cell-mediated contact dermatitis) is not life threatening.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis a 'type' that is not a true allergy, per se, but just as irritating to the person who cannot come into contact with latex without developing contact dermatitis.

80% of people with IgE-mediated (type I) latex allergy first experienced Irritant Contact Dermatitis, so anyone who has a problem with latex is at risk of developing life threatening latex allergies in the future.

Any intact latex proteins in Shea would be a potential irritant, and therefore, I don't give soaps with shea butter to my SIL. Her latex allergy is Type IV. I am at the not-a-true allergy stage (Irritant Contact Dermatitis) and cannot tolerate latex gloves or dental dams, but have no reaction to refined shea butter so far. Still, I am not willing to take a chance with other people's lives, so if I know they have a latex allergy, I don't give them soap with shea butter just to be on the safe side.

Labeling is the key for the seller, though, I believe. If a person with a latex allergy stays informed, they can choose for themselves.

 

[SaltedFig]

I have a latex allergy , bandaids, gloves etx. (break out in blisters). But, I use shea (un-refined) in the majority of my soaps and have never had an issue. I can also use body butter made with refined shea with no issue.

From what I've read, an additional genetic marker is needed to have Shea allergy in addition to a latex or nut allergy, which might explain why you have the latex allergy without an apparent reaction to Shea.

Although the paper handily addressed Shea Nut and Shea Nut Butter/Oil as it relates to Nut Allergies, it did not address any latex allergies.

To clarify the paper's relevance to the question on Shea and latex allergies and why I suggested it might be interesting to read:

I included the industry opinion paper for Primrose to read because of the information it contained on the destruction/removal of allergen causing proteins during refinement process of Shea nut oil. This process of protein filtering/destruction wouldn't be limited to just one type of protein.

This same concept (damaging/removing proteins) is briefly discussed by Vermont soap in a webpage from 2013, who state they have their own protein removal technique to reduce the likelihood of a Shea/latex reaction to their soaps: https://vermontsoap.com/does-shea-butter-contain-latex/

I'm sorry that your daughter has a severe allergy to Shea, but glad that you were able to discover the lotion that triggers the reaction!

Besides that, the article was written as it related to food and not as related to topical applications.

Sorry Earlene, but I respectfully have to disagree with you on this point.

This opinion paper discussed the allergenicity of Shea in the context of use in the manufacturing of Procter & Gamble products, who make toothpastes, shaving products, shampoos, dishwashing detergents and the like.

From page 3 of the opinion paper: FARRP/Procter & Gamble Allergenicity Assessment
At the behest of Procter & Gamble, a company that uses shea nut butter for consumer products (not food products), FARRP collaborated with company scientists to conduct an allergenicity assessment on the shea nut butter ingredient used in their products.

Labeling is the key for the seller, though, I believe. If a person with a latex allergy stays informed, they can choose for themselves.

^ I totally agree with you on this Earlene.

(In Australia we all have to label this way (mandatory labeling laws), which I rather like as a consumer)

(Primrose, you might also want to look at Avocado oil - it has some of the same proteins)

 

[earlene]

I apparently skimmed that paper too fast and missed that part. My error. Thank you for pointing that out.