The Ethics Behind Vegan Butter

The article explores the pros and cons of plant-based butter compared to dairy butter.

While vegan butter offers benefits like lower saturated fats and environmental advantages, it often contains processed oils, artificial additives, and allergens, which can pose health risks.

High omega-6 fatty acids in some vegan butters may contribute to inflammation. Though nutritionally inferior to dairy butter, lacking vitamins like A and D, it can still be a healthier choice when consumed in moderation.

The article encourages choosing high-quality plant-based butters or making your own to avoid unhealthy ingredients and support ethical consumption.

Is plant-based butter really better for you?

Dairy alternatives exist in abundance at your local grocery store. There are numerous alternatives to vegan cheese, milk and butter, to boot.

While vegan butter can be an excellent option for…well…vegans it also serves as an alternative for people with dairy allergies and lactose intolerances. 

Typically a vegan or plant-based butter is made by combining ingredients such as: water, plant-derived oils, salt and nutritional yeast.

Seemingly this option can seem like a healthy alternative but when we really break down the ingredients more may be revealed. 

Often vegan butters will also contain emulsifiers, soy proteins, colorings and natural or artificial flavors. Typically made with a combination of lesser quality oils these can include a blend of: canola, soy, olive, palm or coconut.

Low quality oils tend to be ultra-processed, commonly producing inflammation in the body when heated. Some symptoms include: cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression as a hormone disruptor.

Additionally, seed oils tend to be more prone to oxidation meaning they can lead to the formation of free radicals that cause damage to cells and tissues within the body.

Benefits of Plant Based Butter

Vegan butters tend to be high in monounsaturated fats and lower in saturated fats in comparison to pure dairy butter.

Monounsaturated fats tend to be linked to a reduction in heart disease, obesity and spikes in blood sugar. 

Another major benefit of vegan butters is the reduced impact it seems to have on the environment in comparison to major dairy production impacts such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, land and water over usage. 

All this to be said, if you are purchasing a vegan butter with high amounts of canola oil as a listed ingredient and are concerned about greenhouse emissions and the negative environmental impacts dairy production can have on the environment, opt for an alternative brand.

The increased demand for this unethically harvested and unsustainable oil has been linked to numerous negative consequences on the environment to include deforestation and loss of wildlife diversity.

While a dairy butter is typically made from just cream and salt, a plant based butter tends to contain high amounts of processed oils and artificial additives. Therefore, if consuming vegan butter it is important to consider the ingredients before consuming. 

A few controversies surrounding vegan butter include the high levels of omega-6 fatty acids causing a potential rise in inflammation when consumed in excess. 

Another potential cause of concern with vegan butter is that it is typically made with a high number of common allergens such as tree nuts, gluten and soy products. 

It can be argued that vegan butter is nutritionally inferior to dairy butter as it typically lacks in vitamin A, D and calcium. 

Vegan Butter Alternatives

There are obviously many plant based alternatives to cooking fats including avocado, coconut and olive oil.

When baking, an alternative to butter could also be applesauce, avocado or mashed banana. As a spread: tahini, hummus or a nut butter.

As an alternative to the alternative options listed above, you can also opt to make your own vegan butter, ensuring you’re in control of every included ingredient.

Final Thoughts 

As a vegan choosing a fat to set the tone for your meal can be accomplished in a number of ways.

If you’re craving that buttery taste, reaching for a vegan butter option can seemingly fill the void. The issue at hand is to be cautious which brand you’re choosing.

As always, be sure to read the labels and work to avoid anything with toxic seed oils, high amounts of processed ingredients and artificial colors and flavors.

There are benefits and downsides to consuming vegan butter. As long as you're conscious and curious about what you’re eating you can still get that buttery flavor you’re craving in a healthy and ethical way.