Tried and Tasted: Low Fat Spreads

Whilst seeking out the latest low fat products it's very easy to overlook the little everyday items that can take a big chunk of your calorie quota. In the first of some taste tests for food basics, the team cover some low fat spreads.

Flora Pro-Active

Flora Pro-Activ

A nice, subtle flavour and no unpleasant mouth-feel. Aside from any health benefits this is a great lower fat option even though you may be able to taste that it's a 'light' version.

StarStarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 32kcal 324kcal
CARBS 0.25g 2.5g
FAT 3.5g 35.0g
SODIUM 0.04g 0.4g
PROTEIN 0.01g 0.1g
FIBRE trace trace
Anchor Lighter Spreadable

Anchor Lighter Spreadable

A 25% reduction in calories but still manages to retain most of its buttery taste; if only as an aftertaste for some. Feels fairly light but slightly greasy.

StarStarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 54kcal 544kcal
CARBS 0.05g 0.5g
FAT 6.0g 60.0g
SODIUM 0.05g 0.5g
PROTEIN 0.05g 0.5g
FIBRE 0g 0g
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter

A couple of flavours reported here; both sweet and salty yet not especially buttery. Good but no-one really believing in it.

StarStarStar
Per 7g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 44kcal 635kcal
CARBS 0.05g 0.7g
FAT 4.9g 70.0g
SODIUM 0.05g 0.68g
PROTEIN 0.04g 0.5g
FIBRE 0g 0g
Vitalite

Vitalite

Nice and creamy. No oily aftertaste yet slightly artificial and gungy for some of the team.

StarStarStar
Per 7g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 35kcal 503kcal
CARBS 0g 0g
FAT 3.9g 56.0g
SODIUM 0.1g 0.8g
PROTEIN 0g 0g
FIBRE 0g 0g
Marks & Spencer Olive Spread

Marks & Spencer Reduced Fat Olive Spread

Mixed reactions here with some praising the fresh, olive flavour and others detecting a waxy, chemically taste.

StarStarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 54kcal 536kcal
CARBS 0.1g 1.1g
FAT 5.9g 59.0g
SODIUM 0.06g 0.6g
PROTEIN 0.02g 0.2g
FIBRE 0g 0g
Lurpak Lighter Spreadable

Lurpak Lighter Spreadable

Lurpak: yes, though little of the flavour has been preserved.

Lighter: A 25% reduction in calories and fat.

Spreadable: Probably the least spreadable in this test.

StarStarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 54kcal 544kcal
CARBS 0.1g 0.5g
FAT 6.0g 60.0g
SODIUM 0.03g 0.35g
PROTEIN 0.1g 0.5g
FIBRE 0g 0g
Asda You'd Butter Believe It! Light

Asda You'd Butter Believe It! Light

The only strong feelings expressed here were unfavourable ones. Not as flavoursome as the ICBiNB above.

StarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 35kcal 345kcal
CARBS 0.1g 0.5g
FAT 3.8g 38.0g
SODIUM 0.06g 0.6g
PROTEIN trace 0.3g
FIBRE 0g 0g
Tesco Healthy Living

Tesco Healthy Living Enriched Sunflower Spread

Not a popular choice. A vaguely sweet buttery taste and a waxy, filmy feeling in the mouth.

StarStar
Per 10g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 35kcal 350kcal
CARBS 0.1g 1.0g
FAT 3.8g 38.0g
SODIUM 0.1g 0.5g
PROTEIN trace 0.3g
FIBRE 0g 0g
St Ivel Gold Extra Light

St Ivel Gold Extra Light

It's a shame the lowest calorie spread came in last though not too far behind. Creamy and fairly inoffensive though a bit too thin and oily.

StarStar
Per 7g Serving Per 100g
CALORIES 13kcal 192kcal
CARBS 0.3g 4.3g
FAT 1.3g 19.0g
SODIUM 0.03g 0.4g
PROTEIN 0.06g 0.8g
FIBRE 0.1g 1.3g

Conclusion

Not much of a range in opinions and scores yet there could be some calorie savings to be made if switching from one to another.

The difficulty and vagaries in describing the feelings of a group toward any of these spreads highlight two things. Mainly that choosing a particular spread depends on the tastes, and often just the habits, of the individual. Also this may be an ideal opportunity to switch to a lower calorie alternative and to use thinner and thinner spreadings to reduce your calorie intake without really noticing.

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