Butter's Surprising Luxury Status and Quality Concerns
Once dubbed a cholesterol bomb, butter has experienced a renaissance in recent years despite its saturated fat content. While prices have fluctuated, butter has become more affordable once again, with various brands available for around 1.39 to 3.40 euros per 250 grams. However, with affordability comes the question of quality.
In response to the concerns about misleading claims in certain margarine brands, Stiftung Warentest conducted a butter taste test, evaluating 30 brands, including 18 mildly soured, 6 made from sweet cream, 6 from sour cream, and 7 organic options.
Spreadables have once again become more affordable, dropping from intense pricing to an average of 1.40 euros for 250 grams. Despite these changes, butter is still considered an essential commodity, and moderation is key to maintaining a balanced diet.
The German Nutrition Society (DGE) advises not to spread more than 30 grams of butter or margarine on bread daily. The effects of excess consumption are not fully understood, but it may affect the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 acids.
Of the 30 tested butter brands, 24 received a "good" rating, and only a few faced criticism. The "Dairygold Original Irish Butter," priced around 2.99 euros, was a notable disappointment, scoring "sufficient" for its rancid taste, limited spreadability, and increased yeast and mold content.
The organic sweet cream butter from Alnatura, with a price tag of approximately 2.79 euros, experienced leaks and scored an overall "satisfactory" 3.5. The organic hay milk butter from Käse Rebellen, priced at €2.95, had a slightly stale edge but managed a "satisfactory" 2.6 overall.
Lidl's Milbona organic butter, a sweet cream variant for around 2.59 euros, received an outstanding rating of 1.7. Other budget-friendly options, including Penny's Deutsche Marken-Butter and KauflandK-Classic Deutsche Markenbutter, also earned high marks, proving that affordability and quality need not be mutually exclusive.
Stiftung Warentest recently conducted tests on various butter brands, evaluating their taste, spreadability, and other factors. Several budget-friendly options received high scores, challenging the preconceived notion that expensive brands are the only reliable options for butter consumption.
Recent tests found that several no-frills brands, like Penny's Deutsche Marken-Butter and KauflandK-Classic Deutsche Markenbutter, offer high-quality butter at reasonable prices, effectively overturning the conventional wisdom that name-brand products are necessarily superior.
Unverified Source: Based on available data and information, Stiftung Warentest conducted butter tests. Some primary sources lacked direct, recent information on these tests and their results, so this information has been extrapolated from related sources. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive data, please check the Stiftung Warentest website.
