03/01/2021
Deep breaths.
Ok letās chew the fat - whatās up with butter?
Iām a dairy farmer so I have a vested interest in this topic but Iām also a consumer just like you and I know that butter consistency has become a hot topic. I have been following this closely and here is what I have learned so far...
As you know, I am not into politics or mud slinging but I need you to know that the root of this issue was born out of politics with an agenda and it drives a knife deep into the heart of every dairy farmer I know. Politics aside...
*Cows are NOT fed palm OIL. Palm oil is used in thousands of products produced by humans like margarine, Nutella, cookies, soap, shampoo, chocolate, lipstick, chips, and even bread. Palm oil is NOT added to butter when itās processed. Milk and butter are palm oil free!!! As an aside I recognize that there are concerns with the palm oil industry in general even if there are sustainable sources but the focus of this post is on butter hardness.
*Cows can be fed small amounts of palm FAT (not palm oil), also known as palmitic acid. Palm fat is a by-product of the human food palm oil industry so in essence it would be wasted otherwise and sent to land fill. It can be used to offset energy deficits in cows when they are at the height of their lactation to benefit their health and make them more efficient. Palm fat is NOT added to butter when itās processed either.
*Cows naturally produce palm fat regardless of it being added to their feed or not. In fact, about 1/3 of their naturally-produced fat is palm fat! This fact blew my mind š¤Æ Palm fat is also known as palmitic acid and itās found in both plants and animals. Donāt let the word āpalmā confuse you.
*A cow typically eats about 35kg of feed a day which is mostly grasses/hay but they can be supplemented with approximately 200g (0.2 kg) ā thatās 0.6% of their daily ration ā of palm fat if needed. Feed rations are tested and balanced by a nutritionist for optimum cow health.
*Other countries like the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand also use palm fat to supplement rations so itās not unique to Canada. In fact, Canada thankfully can grow high quality nutrient-dense feeds for our cows so supplementing with palm fat for energy isnāt always warranted. Itās a very expensive product so it is used sparingly if at all.
*There is currently ZERO evidence showing that adding palm fat to the feed ration makes butter harder. Take note that in the original Twitter survey that started this whole media storm around 50% of people found no difference in their butter. Also remember that itās still winter and many houses are colder than normal. I live in an 1885 farmhouse with almost no insulation so I should know š„¶
*Milk composition and fat yield can be affected by all kinds of things like genetics, climate, breed of cow, stage of lactation, time of year, feed quality, types of feed etc...
*Palm fat, which is approved by government food inspection agencies as safe, has been used in dairy cattle feed rations for 40 years so why the sudden perceived change in butter consistency? Some believe that it could be influenced by a processing or milk handling issues. For example, research is being done to see if loading milk trucks by gravity vs pumping the milk into trucks makes a difference in product consistency ā if there is even a proven difference at all. Right now, from what I understand, all claims of butter hardness are anecdotal.
All this being said, we are taking consumer concerns very seriously - you are our customers and your thoughts are important to us. As producers we are frustrated by the politics and misinformation but that doesnāt change our response. Dairy Farmers of Canada has formed a working committee to look into your concerns. To some it appears as admitting guilt but to me their actions are what good customer service is all about. Please donāt share anymore misinformation about butter - people might āspreadā it š š§
I have been pretty overwhelmed lately and feel burnt out by all this so I am seriously taking a bit of a mental health break from social media. Boy, the media loves to āchurnā up controversy š I will be back a ābutterā person.
I am attaching a number of articles by people who are knowledgeable about the topic. As a consumer Iām learning along with you. I will share more as we learn more.
DFCās public statement:
https://dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/en/consider-using-alternatives-palm-supplements-says-dairy-farmers-canada
An article interviewing a genuine expert on the topic of palm fat. Itās excellent so if you donāt speak French use Google translate. I will try to copy an English version in the comments.
https://www.lebulletin.com/elevage/non-le-gras-ajoute-a-la-ration-des-vaches-vaches-laitieres-ne-rend-pas-le-beurre-plus-dur-111519?fbclid=IwAR2B3zfYyKvdhDXdq03K0jJ9DRhKNdL20cLRHdcUQn0vVhJ1AKqauqQAtZg
From my vet who is also a researcher and professor:
https://theconversation.com/buttergate-debunked-no-evidence-butter-is-harder-due-to-palm-supplements-for-cows-156091
From the University of Guelph. Please note that he made the mistake of using the term palm oil when it should have been palm fat š¤¦āāļø
https://www.foodfocusguelph.ca/post/buttergate-or-bs?fbclid=IwAR3LNle8rwOyojxv5UcP9-maTD8Ubnx64ASuNZAOyVNN5nnIQPqwTgg9GzU
An updated one from the CBC:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/marketplace/butter-tests-marketplace-1.5954569
