TOP brands have cut the butter levels in popular spreads — and appear to have replaced it with water.
Experts said it was a classic example of “skimpflation” – where ingredients are cut but shoppers pay the same price.
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The Sun found the butter in Country Life Spreadable fell from 57g per 100g in 2017 to 50g today, a 12 per cent drop.
Its oil content — used to soften the spread — has fallen by 17 per cent.
Anchor and Yeo Valley spreads have a butter content of 50g per 100g, down 7.4 per cent from 54g.
The oil content in both dropped by 12 per cent.
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The other ingredients are salt and water, which help with flavour and texture.
Salt levels have stayed the same, so it is likely the water content has risen to keep overall weight roughly the same.
Cutting down the fat
We found that only Lurpak Spreadable has kept its recipe the same.
Consumer expert Martyn James said: “Cutting the percentage of key ingredients, usually the best bits, is incredibly sneaky and deeply unfair. Even mild tinkering can undermine their taste or quality.”
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Yeo Valley and Anchor pointed out their recipes changes had reduced the fat and calorie content in their products.
Arla, which owns both brands, said: “It’s important we ease pressures on cash-strapped shoppers when we can, as well as returning a fair price to our farmers.
“We have also ensured we offer our shoppers better value products by investing in promotions, new prices and pack sizes.”
Country Life owner Saputo Dairy UK did not respond to requests for comment.
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