Be wary of fake butter; here’s how you can find out if it is adulterated

According to Biswas, real butter is healthier than margarine and other vegetable oil spreads for several reasons:

Nutrient content: Butter contains beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as trace amounts of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and selenium. These nutrients are either absent or present in much lower concentrations in margarine and other vegetable oil spreads.

Healthier fat profile: Butter is primarily composed of saturated fats, which have been unfairly demonised in the past. Emerging research suggests that moderate consumption of saturated fats from whole, unprocessed sources like butter is not as harmful as previously thought and may even have some health benefits, mentioned Biswas.

Absence of trans fats: Unlike margarine and other vegetable oil spreads, which can contain industrially produced trans fats due to the hydrogenation process, real butter does not contain any trans fats, which have been strongly linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems.

More natural and less processed: Butter is a minimally processed, natural dairy product, while margarine and other vegetable oil spreads undergo extensive industrial processing to create their final form. This processing can strip away or alter the natural nutrients and compounds found in the original vegetable oils, said Biswas.

Is your butter pure? (Source: Freepik)

“It’s important to note that while real butter is generally healthier than heavily processed alternatives, it should still be consumed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet. The healthiest approach is to choose high-quality, unprocessed fats from a variety of sources, including butter, olive oil, nuts, and avocados,” said Biswas.

Tips to check purity of butter

One of the easiest ways to test the purity of butter is the palm test. “Take a small piece of butter and place it on your palm. If the butter melts owing to room and body temperature, it is pure,” he said.

On heating butter, if it melts immediately and turns dark brownish in colour, then it is pure; but if it turns light yellow in colour, then it is surely adulterated, said Biswas.

The other way to distinguish is by melting some butter cubes and coconut oil in a glass jar using the double-boiler method and then placing the jar in the refrigerator. “After cooling, examine the solidified butter. If the butter and oil are separate layers, it indicates that the butter is not pure,” said Biswas.

Other ways include adding a mixture of concentrated HCl and a pinch of sugar or adding iodine.

“It’s always better to source ingredients from authentic sources when out grocery shopping. Always read labels and check dietary composition,” said Biswas.