Why is Butter classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

NOVA 4 includes foods that undergo industrial formulations; this butter contains added oils, emulsifiers (E471 mono‑ and diglycerides of fatty acids), a stabiliser (E401 sodium alginate), a preservative (E202 potassium sorbate), a colourant (E160a carotenes) and other minor additives, which move it into the ultra‑processed category.

How does the salt content in this butter affect a hypertensive diet?

With 1.19 g of salt per 100 g, the product exceeds the average spread’s salt level and contributes notably to daily sodium intake, which can raise blood pressure and should be limited for people managing hypertension.

Is this butter suitable for vegan, keto or halal diets?

The product contains reconstituted buttermilk (milk) and therefore is not vegan or suitable for dairy‑free diets; its high fat, low carbohydrate profile fits keto macros, while halal suitability depends on the source of the dairy and emulsifiers, which are not certified as halal in the provided information.

Tesco • 500g

Butter

Fat And Sauces

Product Insights

Butter is a spread belonging to the Fat and sauces group, marketed as a low‑fat butter alternative. It carries a Nutri‑Score of C and falls into NOVA group 4, indicating a highly processed product with multiple additives such as emulsifiers (E471), stabiliser (E401), preservative (E202) and colour (E160a). Nutritionally, it provides 31 g fat (including 7.1 g saturated fat) and 282 kcal per 100 g, with low sugars (0.1 g) but a relatively high salt level (1.19 g), and it contains milk allergens.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

low

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal282 kcal

Fat31 g

Saturated Fat7.1 g

Carbohydrates0.5 g

Sugars0.1 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with typical spreads, this butter has far less fat (31 g vs 76.6 g) and calories (282 kcal vs 709 kcal) but contains more than three times the salt (1.19 g vs 0.39 g) per 100 g.

Ingredients

Water, Rapeseed Oil, Palm Oil, Salt (1.3%), Reconstituted Buttermilk (Milk), Stabiliser (Sodium Alginate), Emulsifiers (Mono - and Di-Glycerides of Fatty Acids), Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate, Sunflower Lecithins), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Lactic Acid, Vitamin E, Colour (Carotenes), Flavouring, Vitamin A, Vitamin D

84%

35%

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