Why is this so important for racial equality? All natural, organic African Shea butter is used as cooking oil in Africa, but why not in America? The FDA refuses to allow Americans to buy African Shea butter as cooking oil, even though it is perfectly safe to use, because they fear it will be purchased on EBT food stamps (SNAP) benefits. The reason this is a racial problem is because African Shea butter is primarily used in products created by black owned businesses. The FDA does not want black businesses to grow, so therefore they are refusing to approve it as food grade, because if they did, black businesses would have a chance to purchase this ingredient; which would then be used to create all natural and extremely healthy hair and skin care products.

Now, whether or not you choose to use African Shea butter as a wonderful cooking ingredient, which it is and has been proven to be in Africa, the blatant racism behind this choice by the FDA a needs to end. The worst case scenario of approving food grade African Shea butter is the growing of black businesses. If butters like this and many others used in these cosmetics and hair Products, which are also completely safe to ingest were to be approved by the FDA as food grade, and purchased on food stamps, these black businesses may grow. Therefore, allowing more black Americans to grow and no longer need assistance from state welfare.

if African Shea butter is approved by the FDA as food grade, along with many other amazing butters that I will list at the very end of this, not only well we have a wide selection of healthier alternatives to the current cooking oils available to us, we will also be growing black businesses. Not to say that all businesses using these products are black owned, but a large majority are owned by people of color. Please sign this petition to end this racial injustice and allow those in poverty to have access to healthier cooking alternatives, as well as help grow black businesses. 

here is a list of butters that are on approved by the FDA Butter completely safe to ingest that are also used for cosmetic products. 

Organic ivory/yellow African Shea butter (a cooking oil. Anti-Inflammatory. Antioxidant. Lowers Cholesterol. Contains Key Vitamins),

Cocoa butter (Approved, but very hard to find for SNAP availability),

Kokum Butter (an ingredient in some curries and candies as an alternative to cocoa butter),

Mango Butter (a rich source of mangiferin, an antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cellular damage that can cause diseases such as cancer.It is also an excellent source of: Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Copper, and Folates.

Hemp Seed Butter (For savoury uses, hemp seed butter can be used as an ingredient for dressings, drizzles and sauces. Eating hemp seeds is not considered as unsafe as is eating hemp leaves or other parts of the plant.)

Cupuaçu can be eaten raw and is commonly added to smoothies and desserts. It's also found in an array of cosmetic products, including body butters and soaps. Furthermore, its powder is an alternative to cocoa powder.

Mafura butter (Possesses a nutty aroma and is edible and hence, can be used for cooking as an oil. Mafura butter is rich in essential fatty acids and showcases strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.)

These are just a few of a long list of edible Butter that are either not approved by the FDA at all for reasons listed above, or approved, but extremely hard to find in stores. I have only found SNAP eligible Coca Butter on Amazon. And only one brand was SNAP approved. There is a strong link to these butters not being FDA approved strictly to avoid the growth of black businesses. I’m a libertarian, we are known as the “taxation is theft” party. I am here to say that I would MUCH rather see my tax dollars funding the growth of black business and have access to healthy cooking oil alternatives, than spending 60 billion dollars on a military budget bombing innocent people in the Middle East, or sending millions in foreign aid to countries for gender studies classes. End this racial injustice. Give us access to SAFE cooking ingredients, and GROW BLACK BUSINESS. 

*mic drop*