Refined Shea butter is edible; it is used in cosmetics for healing & moisturizing benefits and in cooking in African countries.Unrefined Shea butter is good for treating skin conditions. Refined Shea butter is easy to use; it is used for making cosmetic products but they don't have the same healing properties.Yes, Shea butter is edible. African countries use it in food preparation.Unrefined Shea butter is more colorful then refined Shea butter but the colors can be different. Unrefined Shea butter is more white than yellow but this doesn't mean that it is of low quality.A good quality Shea butter has a mild scent that can be nutty or earthy. If Shea butter is having a plastic-like or chemical odor, it means that it is treated with a deodorizer or refined this is not good. Before buying you should always check its products' labels where ingredients are listed in order from the most to least. You should check that Shea butter is given at the beginning of the ingredients. We are the leading manufacturer & supplier of the Shea butter. Our products are chemical-free.Shea butter can go putrid. It takes 12-24 months to expire.The natural color of unrefined Shea butter can be Ivory to faint yellow to green to beige.