Butter vs Olive oil
Key facts
- Compared
- Butter vs Olive oil
- Unit
- per kg
- Metrics
- Saturated fat, Cholesterol
- Source
- USDA FoodData Central · Values vary by product and preparation.
per kg
Source: USDA FoodData Central: fdc.nal.usda.gov · Values vary by product and preparation.
Verdict
Olive oil cuts saturated fat by around 70% compared with butter.
Questions people ask
Is plant margarine as good?
Choose spreads rich in unsaturated fats and compare saturated fat on the label. Palm and coconut oils can raise saturated fat; environmental impacts vary by formulation.
Data: USDA FoodData Central · Values vary by product and preparation. · Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link back.
What the comparison can and cannot tell you
Check the denominator before interpreting a difference: a kilogram of food, a serving, a calorie and a gram of protein answer different questions. Equal weights are not automatically nutritionally equivalent meals. Keep the original source's system boundaries and preparation state when comparing values.
Environmental estimates depend on farming, processing, geography and the study's assumptions. A global average is not a measurement of your own purchase. Broad patterns can guide choices, but the size or ranking of a particular difference needs the relevant study rather than a blanket claim about every animal and plant food.
- Use the same unit and the same raw or cooked state for both foods.
- Check which impacts the source includes; carbon, water and land are separate measures.
- Do not infer a medical benefit from a lower footprint.
- Balance the replacement meal with suitable protein, energy and micronutrient sources.