Trader Joes

Rated at 2 out of 5 green leaves, the Trader Joe’s Vegan Buttery Spread offers a plant-based alternative to traditional butter. However, the product falls short in terms of health and cleanliness standards as set by our website’s criteria.

The spread is not organic, which detracts from its potential to be a cleaner food option. Additionally, it is not verified as non-GMO, raising concerns for consumers seeking genetically unmodified foods. The inclusion of citric acid as an additive, typically considered harmless in small quantities, has been penalized under our scoring system due to its classification as an added sugar. This is a point of contention as citric acid is commonly used in food products for its preservative and flavor enhancing properties, and does not contribute caloric sugar content.

More concerning are the ‘natural flavors’ listed among the ingredients, a term that encompasses a range of substances and offers little transparency about their origins or potential health effects. This ambiguity leads to a significant deduction in the product’s score. Furthermore, the presence of canola oil, categorized under harmful oils in our assessment, further reduces the score. Despite canola oil’s widespread use and its heart-healthy unsaturated fats, there is debate about the health implications of its processing methods and potential GMO origins.

The product makes use of a blend of oils including coconut and sunflower, sheanut butter, sunflower lecithin, fava bean protein, and beta carotene for color, which are not flagged under our system. The use of fava bean protein is a positive aspect, as it adds a plant-based source of protein to the spread.

The Trader Joe’s Vegan Buttery Spread’s rating reflects a need for improvement to align with cleaner and healthier food standards. By addressing the areas of concern such as organic certification, GMO transparency, and the use of additives and certain oils, the product has the potential to offer a more wholesome alternative to conscious consumers.