Nothing is better than a tab of butter on hot toast, and corn on the cob just isn’t the same unless it is covered in butter. Unfortunately, real butter is packed with calories and fat, and many consumers turn to butter substitutes as a way to get the taste without the guilt. One such product is Smart Balance Spreadable Butter, a line of three creamy spreadable butters fortified with plant sterols. Smart Balance doesn’t just market its spread as being “light” or lower in fat than real butter, it actually claims that its spread reduces cholesterol. On the package, in a conspicuous position, Smart Balance claims that its spread contains “100mg Plant Sterols” to “Help Block Cholesterol in the Butter.” Further, Smart Balance Spreadable Butter actually contains 15 mg of cholesterol per serving which is more cholesterol per serving than other varieties of “light” butters, including specifically other Smart Balance butters that contain zero grams of cholesterol This representation may be misleading.
While there is some scientific support for the general claim that plant sterols can reduce cholesterol by blocking its absorption, 100 mg is likely far too little to help block cholesterol. In fact, people need a minimum of 800mg of plant sterols daily to have any appreciable effect; not only is that far more than one serving, but eating 8 servings of butter spread would likely be counter productive, to say the least.
We are investigating a potential class action against Smart Balance. If you or someone you know purchased Smart Balance Spreadable Butter, please contact us to discuss your legal options.