What are Margarine and Spreads?
What's in a margarine or spread?
What all margarine and spreads have in common is that they contain vegetable oil, although each spread may contain different individual oils or blends of oil. Some margarines and spreads also contain buttermilk, butter or other dairy ingredients for a buttery flavour. Margarine and spreads are often used instead of butter and many people prefer them because they are lower in fat. They are also a valuable source of 'good' fats.
The main ingredient in most spreads is either rapeseed or sunflower oil. Olive oil is also a common ingredient and some spreads may contain a little oil from palm or palm kernel to give it a firmer consistency.
The chart below shows how each of these oils fare with regard to "good" and "bad" fats.
| "BAD FATS" | "GOOD FATS" | ||
| Origin | Saturated % |
Monoun-saturated % |
Polyun-saturated % |
| Rapeseed | 8 | 58 | 32 |
| Sunflower | 12 | 23 | 63 |
| Maize(Corn) | 14 | 33 | 52 |
| Soyabean | 16 | 23 | 60 |
| Olive | 15 | 75 | 10 |
| Palm | 40 | 40 | 11 |
| Palm Kernel | 82 | 15 | 2 |
| Butter | 54 | 20 | 3 |
No brands of spread on sale in British shops contain any partially hydrogenated oils, which means levels of trans fatty acids (TFAs) at no more than 1%. Some animal-derived foods, such as butter, milk and beef contain trans fatty acids at levels around 3-6% 1 and partial hydrogenation, a process where liquid, unsaturated oils can be turned into solid, saturated fats can result in the formation of up to 60% TFAs as a by-product of the process. Total hydrogenation gives typically less than 1% trans fatty acids. The good news is that most of us are eating well within the recommended limits for TFAs, so we do not need to worry too much about them at all.
Margarines and spreads also contain a range of vitamins and essential fatty acids, which are vital for the healthy functioning of the body. Margarines and spreads contain vitamins A, D, E and K and without fat in the diet these vitamins cannot be absorbed and used by the body.
Vitamin A is important for vision, fighting infection and maintaining healthy skin.
Vitamin D is important for maintaining healthy bones and helping calcium absorption.
Vitamin E is an important antioxidant and as such it plays a key role in the body.
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and the health of bones and skin.
1EFSA opinion
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-178620753812_1178620767491.htm
