Margarine Under Scrutiny: Ingredient Breakdown, Quality Assessment, and Health Comparison Against Traditional Butter – Which Option Supports Optimal Nutrition?

Margarines are a large and diverse group of fatty products. Hard and soft margarines used for baking oils can be distinguished. For making hard margarines, oils are used: soybeans, grapefruit and palm oil, as well as fish fats. In the production of margarine used for ointment, sunflower oil, soybean oil and grease oil are most commonly used.[1] Currently, many technological processes are used to process fat. They are referred to as fatty acids. The characteristics of trans fats are the release, fractionation and translucency of fish oils.

Baking products, including margarine, often contain additives. These include: dyes, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, thickening agents, acidity regulators. Baking fats, as well as margarines, should be enriched with vitamins A and D3. Other vitamins may also be added. According to the regulations, the content of vitamin A in 100 g of the final product may not exceed 900 μg (3000 μm).

The range of margarines available in our market is large. In order to satisfy consumers, manufacturers are generally introducing fewer and fewer oils and fats into stores. They also happen to change the composition of existing products. Therefore, it is important to frequently evaluate the quality of margarine.[1] Because individual products differ from each other in composition and nutritional value. With advances in technology, we are improving the product quality in the form of soft margarines. Generally, they contain fewer and less added fats. Through the technology itself it is also possible to reduce the content of isomers and its saturated fatty acids, which are responsible for the fat content of all margarine products to its fat content.

Both butter and margarine have their supporters. Studies show that the consumption of both products is at a similar level. 44% of respondents said they consumed margarine most often, while 43% chose butter. However, most respondents indicated that the healthiest product for baking butter is butter.[6] It is a more natural product. Currently, the raw material for making butter is the cream that is obtained from milk. Dairy fat is also considered the best digestible fat for margarine because of its specific fatty acid content.