President Butter Deemed Least Healthy Spread in Consumer Analysis

President Butter with sea salt crystals has been identified as the unhealthiest butter or spread option among 52 premium brands analyzed by Which?, a consumer organization. The product was found to have the highest levels of saturated fat and salt, contributing to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

According to the analysis, President Butter with sea salt crystals contains 55g of saturated fat per 100g and 2.5g of salt per 100g. This salt content is comparable to seawater, according to Which?.

Saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol, a known risk factor for cardiovascular issues. High salt intake is directly linked to elevated blood pressure. Excess calorie consumption, often found in rich spreads, also contributes to weight gain and associated health risks such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Conversely, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light was identified as the healthiest option, with only 5.6g of saturated fat per 100g. Which? noted that this spread, made with rapeseed and sunflower oils, offers a significant reduction in saturated fat compared to traditional block butters. Flora Lighter followed as the second healthiest option at 5.7g of saturated fat per 100g.

The study also examined the cost of these products, finding that pure dairy block butters average approximately £1.27 per 100g, while spreadable dairy blends cost about £1.15 per 100g. In comparison, standard light spreads are considerably more affordable, averaging 43p per 100g. This price difference is attributed to the higher cost of dairy fat compared to plant-based oils.

Other products identified as less healthy due to high saturated fat content included Country Life Unsalted Butter (54.7g per 100g), Country Life Salted Butter (54g per 100g), Kerrygold Unsalted Butter (54g per 100g), and Kerrygold Pure Irish Salted Butter (53g per 100g).

Shefalee Loth, a public health nutritionist at Which?, advised consumers to opt for olive oil-based spreads rich in unsaturated fats for heart health and to avoid high-salt products to protect blood pressure. For individuals with high cholesterol, plant sterol spreads were recommended.

Loth also emphasized the importance of portion control, stating that a standard serving for butter and regular spreads is one teaspoon (5g). She cautioned that single servings often found in catering, such as foil-wrapped pats or tubs, can range from 7g to 10g, potentially doubling the intended intake.