Is cocoa butter vegan? Yes, usually, but read on for a few issues before buying any random brand!
It isn’t always easy to tell if a product is vegan, based on its name alone. When you hear butter, you might think cocoa butter contains dairy. Luckily, it doesn’t!
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a kind of vegetable fat that’s derived from cocoa beans. These beans are actually the seeds of the Theobroma cacao plant, which is better known as the cocoa tree. Cocoa beans are also used to make chocolate, cocoa solids, and various food products.
Unsurprisingly, cocoa butter is found in many types of chocolate. However, it’s also a popular ingredient in various products applied to the skin, including soaps, lotions, and creams.
How Is Cocoa Butter Made?
After cocoa beans are harvested, they are cleaned and roasted. Once the roasting process is complete, the shells are removed and the beans are ground down, which produces a liquid substance called cocoa liquor. The liquor is pressed, which allows fat to be separated. That fat is known as cocoa butter.
Although only part of the cocoa bean is converted into cocoa butter, the remaining parts can be used to make other substances. Chocolate liquor is commonly used for baking, while the rest of the bean is converted into cocoa powder. The entire cocoa pod is able to be utilized during this process.
What Is Cocoa Butter Used For?
While you’ll find cocoa butter used in virtually every chocolate made in the United States, it has other purposes as well. Cocoa butter is naturally emollient, and because of that, it’s frequently used in beauty products as well.
You can find it in everything from soaps to lip balms to moisturizers and skin creams.
Thanks to the fatty acids in cocoa butter, it moisturizes the skin and protects it at the same time. It’s packed with vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant, and it can even be an effective treatment for skin conditions like dermatitis and eczema.
Although it’s not a replacement for sunscreen, it also contains phytochemicals that can help to protect the skin against UV damage.
Cocoa butter products can soothe irritated skin, heal skin that’s rough and dry, and so much more. Many creams and lotions also include other emollient ingredients as well, which can help to enhance the natural moisturizing properties of cocoa butter.
It’s very common to see cocoa butter on the ingredients list for both foods and beauty products, but it can also be used as an ingredient in products you make yourself. Purchasing cocoa butter will allow you to make your own chocolates, lotions, and more.
Just keep in mind that you need to buy food-grade cocoa butter if you want to make edible products.
Is Cocoa Butter Vegan?
As I said, in spite of its name, there’s no actual butter found in cocoa butter. It’s referred to as cocoa butter because of its consistency and texture. Cocoa butter in its natural form does not contain any dairy or animal products, making it completely vegan.
With that said, there’s no guarantee that a product containing cocoa butter will be vegan. Many food products that use cocoa butter contain non-vegan ingredients as well, like gelatin.
In creams and lotions, you might find ingredients like collagen, while many soaps contain shellac. It’s always best to check labels before purchasing a new product. When possible, you should stick to products that are confirmed to be vegan.
Ethical/Environmental Issues
While it’s possible to harvest cocoa beans without causing any damage to the environment, there are many harmful practices that have been linked to cocoa production.
Some farmers use poor agricultural practices that can lead to soil erosion over time. The cocoa industry has also been linked to deforestation.
Another major ethical concern is the treatment of the workers that are harvesting the cocoa beans. Workers may be subject to harsh conditions, as well as inadequate pay. Because of these concerns, you might want to make a point of buying products made by companies that support good practices.
Companies are able to apply for fair-trade certification, which confirms that certain standards were met when the cocoa beans were being harvested. It can also be helpful to research the companies behind products.
Vegan Cocoa Butter Brands
The following products are ALL labeled as vegan and organic. They’re food-grade, meaning that they can be used for baking, cooking and candy-making.
I’ve also made note of which ones are labeled as fair-trade, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
Anthony’s makes a good point on their bag. It says that organic is always non-GMO. So although the Anthony’s bag isn’t certified non-GMO, it is non-GMO – because it’s organic.
But if the certification is important to you, then you can find which companies have it below.
The following info is true as of 1/25/2022. I checked the package of every brand to ensure it was correct.
But labels and certifications can change at any time! Always check to make sure they’re still vegan before buying.
- Sunfood Superfoods Organic Cacao Butter Wafers – fair-trade, gluten-free, non-GMO.
- Anthony’s Organic Cocoa Butter Wafers – gluten-free.
According to an Anthony’s rep in the Q&A section on Amazon, this one isn’t raw. The roasting step takes place at 250 °F to 275 °F. - Navitas Organics Cacao Butter – fair-trade, non-GMO.
It’s made with pure, cold-pressed oil, meaning that it’s raw. Sold in chunks. - Nuvia Organics Cocoa Butter Wafers – gluten-free, non-GMO.
This one doesn’t mean being cold-pressed or raw, so I’m assuming that it’s not. Super if you have allergies as this one is produced in a facility free of the 8 major allergens. - Wild Foods Cocoa Butter Wafers – labeled as gluten-free, non-GMO.
They’re raw, small batch and ethically sourced. - Food to Live Organic Cacao Butter – non-GMO.
Raw and sold in large chunks. - Organic Traditions Cocoa Butter – non-GMO.
This one doesn’t mention raw or temperatures, so I’m assuming it’s not. Sold in large chunks. - Wildly Organic Cacao Butter – non-GMO.
Raw. This is sold as one large piece and not as wafers.
This one is my top pick! It’s also the only one that gluten-free, fair-trade and non-GMO.
I love this company and haven’t been disappointed with their products. This one I’ve tried myself and tastes great!
Also, no chemicals or solvents are used at any point during production. Through their low temperature process, they’re able to preserve the delicate nutrients and flavors found in cacao.
This one is considered raw. What does that mean, anyway?
It means that it’s not exposed to excess heating above 115 °F (46 °C) and is therefore, nutritionally more valuable.
Is Cocoa Butter Gluten-free?
You might be wondering why I labeled a few of them as gluten-free. Cocoa butter is naturally gluten-free, but cross-contamination can be a problem.
So companies can choose to get their products tested for gluten. If it’s below 20ppm (in the US), then they’re allowed to be labeled as such.
If you’re super sensitive to gluten, finding a product labeled as gluten-free would be a good idea. And if you’re extremely sensitive, then look for certified gluten-free products.
Those have to be tested to be below 10ppm. However, I didn’t come across any brands that were vegan and certified gluten-free.
Does Cocoa Butter Have Any Side Effects?
Some products made with cocoa butter may contain potentially harmful ingredients, but pure cocoa butter is unlikely to irritate the skin in any way. It is linked to positive side effects, such as improving skin elasticity, relieving irritated or itchy skin, and moisturizing dry skin.
Cocoa butter can be eaten, even when it’s unrefined, but only if the product you’re using is food grade. If the packaging of a product does not specify that it is food grade, it shouldn’t be consumed. It’s best to look at the label closely before using any cocoa butter product.
What Are the Benefits of Cocoa Butter?
There are many benefits linked to cocoa butter, but these perks can vary based on how the ingredient is used.
When you eat cocoa butter, you’ll be able to benefit from the nutrients it naturally contains, including oleic acid, which can improve heart health, and vitamins E and K. Topical application will allow you to enjoy its moisturizing and healing properties.
Cocoa butter’s skincare benefits are fairly well-known, but it can also do a lot to improve hair health. Not only can it make dry hair softer, but it also has a long history of being used to promote hair growth. It can help to clean and nourish the scalp, which can stimulate hair follicles.
So, yes – cocoa butter is vegan! It’s naturally derived from cocoa beans and doesn’t contain any animal products. With that said, some products that use cocoa butter as an ingredient may not be vegan-friendly.
Whether you want to buy raw cocoa butter to make your own skincare products or are simply interested in cocoa butter’s many benefits, it’s worthwhile to seek out vegan, ethically-sourced products that are a good fit for your needs.
