Even though margarine is often marketed as a “non-dairy” or “lactose free” alternative to butter, most margarines are not vegan, because they still contain ingredients derived from cow’s milk. The only margarines that are typically vegan are the ones that clearly label themselves as such on the packaging. For example, Smart Balance and Earth Balance’s vegan margarines say so right on the container.
Popular Vegan Margarine Brands
These are the most popular makers of vegan margarine in the US and the UK.
Note: You should still check the labels on these brands because some of their spreads might contain animal ingredients.
- Earth Balance
- Smart Balance
- Spectrum
- Pure (UK)
Most people recommend Earth Balance because it is the most well known, but Smart Balance, Spectrum, and Pure are also worth trying because they all taste slightly different. You may also find that one works better for certain applications than the others – e.g., baking, frying, roasting, etc.
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