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-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.
| 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
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.
| 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
A couple of flavours reported here; both sweet and salty yet not especially buttery. Good but no-one really believing in it.
| 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
Nice and creamy. No oily aftertaste yet slightly artificial and gungy for some of the team.
| 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 Reduced Fat Olive Spread
Mixed reactions here with some praising the fresh, olive flavour and others detecting a waxy, chemically taste.
| 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: 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.
| 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
The only strong feelings expressed here were unfavourable ones. Not as flavoursome as the ICBiNB above.
| 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 Enriched Sunflower Spread
Not a popular choice. A vaguely sweet buttery taste and a waxy, filmy feeling in the mouth.
| 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
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.
| 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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