Margarine is generally derived from plant-based oils, goes through a process of hydrogenation to turn those liquid fats solid, and contains between 80%-90% fat.

That’s because some margarines contain preservatives, and they can easily sit in the fridge for 4 to 6 months beyond their date without any noticeable change in quality. And I’m not comfortable recommending using margarine that’s that old, no matter how it looks and tastes. On average, for each kilogram of butter produced, 12.1kg of CO2 equivalent was emitted (including the more potent but short-lived greenhouse gas methane), compared to 3.3kg for plant-based spreads.Of the more widely available vegan spreads, we would recommend Flora although it scored lower than Vitalite or Pure. In particular it was much better on palm oil. This report covers butter, margarine and spreads, including vegan non-dairy alternatives. What is the difference between butter, margarine and a spread?

It smells bad.Margarine typically has a pleasant buttery aroma, so if yours smells like soap or paint, it’s pretty obvious the product is done for.Now, what if your margarine is a couple of weeks beyond the printed date? Should you toss it without giving it a second thought? Expired Margarine That said, I don’t suggest storing and using margarine for as long as it doesn’t show any signs of spoilage. Wondering why? Minimum life based on 'use-by' date of product. Average life based on last week's deliveries. Life guarantee shown based on delivery tomorrow with the Life guarantee starting the following day. When it comes to storage time, margarine usually lasts longer than butter, but its shelf life is nowhere near that of oils (say, canola, which lasts at least six months after opening). We would have extra confidence in Utterly Butterly if it submitted itself to apply for Ethical Accreditation, whereby The Good Shopping Guide would make further detailed assessment and recommendations for ethical improvement.