Revealed: The unhealthiest supermarket butters and spreads - with President Butter at the top of the list

Whether it's spread on a cracker, piled on a baked potato, or melted into a sauce, butter is undeniably one of the most delicious ingredients. 

But when it comes to the kitchen staple, not all versions are created equally. 

The experts at Which? analysed 52 premium–brand butters and spreads to reveal the healthiest – and least healthy – choices. 

The results will come as a relief to fans of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light, which was found to be the healthiest option. 

However, it's bad news if your go–to is President Butter with sea salt crytals, which came out as the unhealthiest offering. 

'As well as having the highest saturated fat levels, it also contains 2.5g of salt per 100g – as much as Atlantic seawater,' Which? said.

It's bad news if your go–to is President Butter with sea salt crytals, which came out as the unhealthiest offering

For the study, the team analysed the levels of saturated fat, salt, and calories in 52 popular products.

Saturated fat raises 'bad' LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, while high salt intake directly impacts blood pressure. 

The unhealthiest butters and spreads

Product	Calories	Saturated fat (g per 100g)	Salt (g per 100g)
President Butter with sea salt crystals	727	55	2.5
Country Life Unsalted Butter	746	54.7	0.03
Country Life Salted Butter	737	54	1.8
Kerrygold Unsalted Butter	748	54	0
Kerrygold Pure Irish Salted Butter	744	53	1.8

Meanwhile, excess calorie intake contributes to weight gain and associated risks like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

According to the analysis, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light is the healthiest option, with just 5.6g of saturated fat per 100g. 

'Thanks to a blend of rapeseed and sunflower oils, this bargain spread delivers a 90% reduction in saturated fat compared to traditional block butters we looked at,' Which? explained. 

'Although it has a slightly higher salt profile than the other top–five spreads, its impressive fat reduction makes it a top choice for your daily toast.'

Flora Lighter is next on the list (5.7g of saturated fat per 100g), ahead of Flora ProActiv Light (7.6), Benecol Light Spread (8), and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Original (10). 

In contrast, President Butter with sea salt crystals was deemed the worst option, with a whopping 55g of saturated fat per 100g.

Other unhealthy options include Country Life Unsalted Butter (54.7g of saturated fat per 100g), Country Life Salted Butter (54), Kerrygold Unsalted Butter (54), and Kerrygold Pure Irish Salted Butter (53). 

According to the analysis, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Light is the healthiest option, with just 5.6g of saturated fat per 100g

In terms of cost, Which? found that prices vary dramatically. 

Pure dairy block butters cost around £1.27 per 100g on average, while spreadable dairy blends are £1.15 per 100g on average. 

However, standard light spreads average just 43p per 100g, while functional spreads average 90p per 100g.

This is largely because dairy fat is a more expensive ingredient than plant oils.

Overall, if you're trying to be a bit healthier, Which? advises opting for an olive oil spread, such as Bertolli Light.

Shefalee Loth, a public health nutritionist at Which? said: 'For heart health, choose an olive oil spread rich in unsaturated fats, avoid high–salt products to protect blood pressure, and consider plant sterol spreads if you have high cholesterol.

'Whatever you choose, stick to recommended portion sizes: a standard serving for butter and regular spreads is 1 teaspoon (5g).

'Keep in mind that individual foil–wrapped pats or plastic tubs served in cafés and hotels are typically 7–10g, meaning a single catering portion can easily double your expected intake.'