Butter: which products are ultra-processed and which are not?
Brands like Flora, Lurpak, Anchor and Kerrygold are often called butter. However, not all of them are pure butter. Some are made from simple ingredients, while others are ultra-processed. Here's a clear guide to which butters, spreads and margarines in the UK are ultra-processed — and which are not.
Tormund Gerhardsen
Founder of The Food App
What is ultra-processed food?
Ultra-processed food refers to products that have gone through extensive industrial processing. A classic sign of ultra-processed foods is long ingredient lists with items you wouldn’t normally find in a typical kitchen.
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The difference between butter, margarine and butter spreads
Butter, often called "real butter," is made from churned cream. It’s typically based on raw ingredients and not considered ultra-processed. However, much of what people refer to as butter in everyday conversation is actually margarine or butter spreads.
Margarine is a butter substitute made from vegetable oils like soybean, rapeseed or sunflower oil, and is often classified as ultra-processed. Butter spreads blend dairy butter with plant-based oils to stay soft in the fridge, and depending on their ingredients and processing, some are also considered ultra-processed.
Why are some butter spreads considered ultra-processed?
Butter spreads stay soft by blending butter with vegetable oils and adding emulsifiers to keep water and fat from separating. The oils are often hardened through industrial processing to create a firmer, more stable texture.
Many spreads also include stabilisers, preservatives, flavourings or colourings to improve shelf life, taste and appearance. These added ingredients and processes go beyond traditional food preparation, making many butter spreads ultra-processed.
Is Lurpak considered ultra-processed?
Lurpak is the largest butter and spread brand in the UK, and most of its products are not considered ultra-processed. They are primarily made from dairy butter. Some spreadable versions include rapeseed oil for softness, but typically without additives that would make them ultra-processed.
Lurpak Butter - Slightly Salted 200g
Ingredients: Butter (Milk), Lactic Culture (Milk), Salt, Minimum Fat content 80%
Lurpak Butter - Slightly Salted 200g is Not ultra-processed .
Lurpak Lighter Spreadable Blend of Butter and Rapeseed Oil 750g
Ingredients: Butter (40%) (Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil, Lactic Culture (Milk), Salt
Lurpak Lighter Spreadable Blend of Butter and Rapeseed Oil 750g is Not ultra-processed .
Lurpak Plant Based Spreadable 400g
Ingredients: Plant Oils (Rapeseed, Coconut, Shea), Water, Oat, Culture, Salt, Carrot Concentrate, Lemon Concentrate
Lurpak Plant Based Spreadable 400g is Not ultra-processed .
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Flora
Flora mainly produces plant-based spreads made from oils like sunflower, rapeseed, and palm. These spreads often contain emulsifiers, stabilisers, and added flavouring, which means many of Flora’s products are classified as ultra-processed. Unlike traditional butter, they are made through several industrial steps to achieve their texture and shelf life.
Flora Original Spread with Natural Ingredients 450G
Ingredients: Plant Oils (Rapeseed, Sunflower, Linseed), Water, Coconut Fat, Salt (1.3%), Plant Based Emulsifier (Lecithin), Faba Bean preparation, Natural Flavourings, Vitamin A
Flora Original Spread with Natural Ingredients 450G er Ultra-processed.
Flora Lighter Spread With Natural Ingredients 1KG
Ingredients: Water, Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, Sunflower, Linseed), Coconut Fat, Salt 1.2%, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids), Vinegar, Natural Flavourings, Vitamin A
Flora Lighter Spread With Natural Ingredients 1KG er Ultra-processed.
Anchor
Anchor offers a range of butters and spreads in the UK. Its traditional block butter is made from cream and is not considered ultra-processed. However, some products contain additives such as colour or other substances that make them ultra-processed.
Anchor Spreadable Blend of Butter and Rapeseed Oil 400g
Ingredients: Anchor Butter (50%) (Milk), Rapeseed Oil (29%), Water, Salt (1.1%), Colour (Beta Carotene)
Anchor Spreadable Blend of Butter and Rapeseed Oil 400g er Ultra-processed.
Anchor Salted Butter 200G
Ingredients: Butter (Milk), Salt (1.7%)
Anchor Salted Butter 200G is Not ultra-processed .
Kerrygold
Kerrygold is best known for its pure Irish butter, made from cream with no unnecessary additives. These products are not considered ultra-processed. While Kerrygold also offers spreadable versions in some markets, they tend to keep ingredients simple, making most of their range free from ultra-processing.
Kerrygold Salted Block Butter 250G
Ingredients: Butter (Milk), Salt (1.8%), Fat 80% min
Kerrygold Salted Block Butter 250G is Not ultra-processed .
Kerrygold Spreadable Butter 400g
Ingredients: Butter (50%) (Milk), Water, Rapeseed Oil (20%), Salt (1.3%), Colour (Carotene)
Kerrygold Spreadable Butter 400g er Ultra-processed.
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Clover
One of the UK's best-selling spreads. Products contain additives such as colour and flavouring, so many are classified as ultra-processed.
Clover Original Spread 500G
Ingredients: Vegetable Oils in varying proportions (Sustainable Palm, Rapeseed), Buttermilk (Milk) (20%), Water, Salt, Natural Flavouring, Colour (Carotenes)
Clover Original Spread 500G er Ultra-processed.
Country Life
A classic British brand made from British cream – this block butter contains only simple ingredients and is not ultra-processed.
Country Life British Salted Block Butter 200g
Ingredients: Butter (Milk), Salt (1.8%)
Country Life British Salted Block Butter 200g is Not ultra-processed .
Vitalite
A leading plant-based spread in the UK, free from dairy, but often containing stabilisers and emulsifiers – making it ultra-processed.
Vitalite Dairy Free Spread 500G
Ingredients: Vegetable Oils in varying proportions (Rapeseed, Sustainable Palm, Sunflower), Water, Salt, Emulsifiers-E471, Lecithins, Preservative-Potassium Sorbate, Acid-Lactic Acid, Flavourings, Colours - Annatto Bixin, Curcumin
Vitalite Dairy Free Spread 500G er Ultra-processed.
Tesco (own brand)
Tesco offers several butters and spreads under its own label. Ingredients vary by product — some are simple, while others include additives typical of ultra-processed foods.
Tesco 30% Less Fat Buttery Spread 500g
Ingredients:
INGREDIENTS: Water, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Salt (1%), Emulsifiers (Mono- and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids, Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate), Reconstituted Buttermilk (0.5%), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Flavouring (contains Milk), Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Colour (Beta-Carotene), Vitamin D.
Tesco 30% Less Fat Buttery Spread 500g er Ultra-processed.
Tesco Butterpak Spreadable - Slightly Salted 500g
Ingredients: INGREDIENTS: Butter (Milk) (64%), Rapeseed Oil, Water, Salt (0.9%).
Tesco Butterpak Spreadable - Slightly Salted 500g is Not ultra-processed .
Tesco British Unsalted Butter 250G
Ingredients: Unsalted butter. Minimum 82% milk fat.
Tesco British Unsalted Butter 250G is Not ultra-processed .
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Président
The prèsident brands traditional butter is made with simple ingredients and isn’t ultra-processed.
Président French Unsalted Block Butter 250g
Ingredients: Butter (Cream (Milk), Lactic Starters), Total Fat content: 82%
Président French Unsalted Block Butter 250g is Not ultra-processed .
Yeo Valley
Yeo Valley’s butters are typically made from cream without unnecessary additives, so they are generally not ultra-processed.
Yeo Valley Organic Salted Butter 200g
Ingredients: Organic Unsalted Butter (Milk), Salt* (1.5%), Minimum Fat content 80%, *Non-organic ingredient
Yeo Valley Organic Salted Butter 200g is Not ultra-processed .
Bertolli
Bertolli uses plant oils and often includes additives. Most of its products fall under the ultra-processed category
Bertolli Original Spread 450G
Ingredients: Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, Palm, Olive (10%)), Water, Salt (1.1%), Buttermilk (Milk), Emulsifiers (Mono- & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Lecithin), Natural Flavourings, Vitamins A & D
Bertolli Original Spread 450G er Ultra-processed.
ProActiv
Designed to help lower cholesterol, ProActiv spreads contain plant sterols and several additives, making them ultra-processed.
ProActiv Buttery Taste Spread 450G
Ingredients: Vegetable Oils (Rapeseed, Coconut, Sunflower), Water, Plant Sterol Esters 9% (Equivalent to 5.4% Plant Sterols), Salt (0.8%), Emulsifier (Lecithin), Natural Flavourings, Vitamin A and D
ProActiv Buttery Taste Spread 450G er Ultra-processed.
Benecol
Similar to ProActiv, Benecol spreads include plant stanols and are designed for heart health. They are considered ultra-processed due to added ingredients.
Benecol Buttery Spread 500G
Ingredients: Rapeseed Oil, Water, Plant Stanol Ester (Plant Stanols 6.6g/100g), Responsibly sourced Palm Oil, Buttermilk Powder, Salt (1%), Emulsifiers (Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Sunflower Lecithin), Natural Flavourings, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Colour (Carotenes), Vitamin A, Vitamin D3
Benecol Buttery Spread 500G er Ultra-processed.
