Info from Spectrum about their external use only coconut oil

[Guest guest]

Two weeks ago, I sent a question to Spectrum Essentials about the " external

use only " label on one of their coconut oils. Spectrum Essentials oils are

sold in American health food stores, and some members of this group had warned

against eating anything with an " external use only " label because it probably

contained toxic chemicals or significant solvent residues. Here is the reply

I received today from Spectrum Essentials.

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Greetings! Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your inquiry.

Thank you for contacting us and for your interest in our coconut oils.

Spectrum actually sells three coconut oils. One is called Spectrum

Essentials Coconut Oil (comes in a 15oz plastic tub), and is labeled for skin

and hair

care. The other two are Spectrum Naturals Organic Refined coconut Oil and

Spectrum Naturals Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil (they come in 14 oz glass

jars), and are labeled as culinary oils. Our unrefined coconut oil has a

distinct

coconut flavor and aroma and the refined coconut oil has a neutral flavor for

a greater variety of applications. All are edible -- including our 15oz,

non-organic, Spectrum Essentials Coconut oil labeled for hair and skin care,

but

because it is not organic, we market that one as a body care oil.

Our Spectrum Organic Refined Coconut Oil is processed in accordance with the

USDA organic regulations. Additionally, we take a number of additional

refining steps to ensure the highest quality, best tasting coconut oil.

First, the organic coconuts used to make this oil are hand harvested from

family farms in the Philippines. The oil is produced from copra that is dried

using different methods depending on the time of year. Our coconut is dried in

two ways. The concrete drying method means that the coconut meat is laid out

to dry in direct sun. In the Galangang method, coconut meant is dried over a

bamboo and husk fire on bamboo trays. The drying process takes a total of

ten hours, ideally yielding moisture levels between 8-12% humidity.

Before each organic processing run, the equipment used to press the oil is

steam-cleaned and the pipes are flushed with organic crude oil. After

dehusking and drying, the copra is manually cleaned and reduced to a coarse

grit with

a hammer mill. This is then expeller pressed using a worm screw dual

cylinder press that reaches a maximum temperature of about 120 degrees Celsius.

It

is then filtered through stainless steel to remove any small copra particles.

The crude coconut oil is loaded directly into drums and sent to be refined to

remove any free fatty acids, which can cause spoilage.

During refining, the crude oil is heated and mixed in a tank with activated

coal and diatomaceous earth, which remove the pink color of the raw meat. No

chlorine is used in processing coconut oils. To eliminate exposure to oxygen,

which can create the formation of free fatty acids, the neutralized oil is

then filter pressed and the moisture expelled by heat in a vacuum. It is then

deodorized by steam at 230 degrees Celsius for one to two hours, filled

directly into drums, and shipped to Spectrum's manufacturing facilities

where it is bottled immediately.

Proper processing and quality are of the utmost importance, so Spectrum

conducts comprehensive testing for freshness on all its oils for peroxide,

trace

iodine, and moisture levels according to American Oil Chemists' Society

(AOCS) standards and evaluates color, odor and taste -- ensuring the highest

quality product.

Please don't hesitate to write again if you need any additional information.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Ellen Markham

Spectrum Organic Products