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by Marion Nestle
Jan
7
2014
Today’s irony: butter
A new report from Finland says that people with metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar, etc) do not follow dietary recommendations.
In particular, their diets contain too much saturated fat and sodium.
The saturated fat part is funny because this morning’s PoliticoPro Agriculture notes that the American Butter Institute (yes, such things exist) proudly announces that Americans are consuming more butter.
The Butter Institute’s press release, according to PoliticoPro, says:
Margarine and other spreads are no longer viewed as healthier alternatives…since 2002, Americans have increased butter consumption by 25 percent. In 2012, per capita consumption reached 5.6 pounds a year, a dramatic increase from the 1997 low of 4.1 pounds.
We still have a way to go to beat the Finns. In 2011, average butter consumption in Finland was 4 kilos (nearly 9 pounds), and rising.
Love butter? Better eat your veggies and balance calories!