Updated September 2022! This summer, Smart Balance Buttery Spreads underwent a recipe transition, and it’s a doozy. In most varieties, the water to oil ratio was increased, reducing the fat and calories by 25 to 40%. In essence, several of the “regular” buttery spreads became the “light” buttery spreads, and the formal light versions were discontinued. Flaxseed oil was substituted for the pea protein in most varieties, which is good news for some with legume allergies, but it is reportedly causing more oil/water separation in the product. Also, several varieties now specifically contain “vitamin D3” and do not state if it is vegan sourced. We have full information in this post, followed by current reviews.
Smart Balance Buttery Spreads Continue to Evolve as Dairy-Free Alternatives
Smart Balance Buttery Spreads confuse many dairy-free consumers, and for good reason. This brand has twisted and turned more times over the years than I can count. Early on, a company called GFA Brands produced Earth Balance and Smart Balance. Yes, they are made by the same company, and reportedly in the same facility. GFA was eventually bought by Boulder Brands, which has since been swallowed up by Conagra Foods.
The Earth Balance line of products has been dairy-free all along, but many of the Smart Balance products started out with dairy. They made a light version without dairy, and later added a specifically dairy-free Smart Balance Buttery Spread. Then one day, Smart Balance, as a brand, went completely dairy-free and plant-based. For a while, their packaging even said “dairy free butter” on the front. Some of their old customers weren’t happy about this, so they have since added a dairy “Butter Blend” line of products back into their mix.
So now, all of the Smart Balance Buttery Spreads are dairy-free, but they do have a dairy butter blend line of spreads. Whew! Fortunately, the two lines look quite different. The butter blends are small oval containers, while the buttery spreads are full-size, square-ish tubs. They did remove “dairy free butter” from the buttery spread packaging, but I’m guessing it was just to avoid potential dairy lawsuit issues about using the term “butter.” There wasn’t any other change to that product line, and they remained dairy free.
But this year, the transitions are continuing. All light versions of Smart Balance have been discontinued, and the aforementioned formula change is a massive one. It affects the consistency, nutrition, and customer base. The packaging still looks nearly identical. But if you look closely, the oil percentages have changed quite a bit. In fact, the Original, Omega3, and Olive Oil versions went from 64% vegetable oils to 39% vegetable oils. And of course, the ingredients and basic nutrition facts have changed to the ones detailed below.
Smart Balance Buttery Spreads Reveal Lighter Formulas in Regular Line
Here are current details on all of the non-organic dairy-free and vegan buttery spreads from this brand. We’re not sure yet if the organic variety has changed, as the company hasn’t updated any information anywhere online. For now, we have the organic information from prior. Please do leave your own unbiased rating and review below if you buy and try any of them, and be sure to mention which one(s) you use!
Original
Ingredients: vegetable oil blend (canola oil, palm oil, olive oil), water, contains less than 2% of salt, flaxseed oil, monoglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, sunflower lecithin, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d3, beta-carotene (color), and potassium sorbate, lactic acid, calcium disodium edta (to preserve freshness).
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 60 calories, 7g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Omega 3 (not vegan)
Ingredients: water, vegetable oil blend (canola oil, palm oil), water, contains less than 2% of, flaxseed oil, salt, fish oil, monoglycerides, olive oil, natural and artificial flavors, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d3, beta-carotene (color), and potassium sorbate, lactic acid, tbhq, calcium disodium edta (to protect freshness). contains: fish.
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 50 calories, 6g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Low Sodium Whipped
Ingredients: vegetable oil blend (canola oil, palm oil), water, less than 2% of salt, pea protein isolate, monoglycerides, sunflower lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, vitamin a palmitate, beta-carotene color, and potassium sorbate, lactic acid, calcium disodium edta (to preserve freshness).
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 60 calories, 7g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
with Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ingredients: water, vegetable oil blend (canola oil, palm oil, extra virgin olive oil), less than 2 percent of: flaxseed oil, salt, monoglycerides, natural and artificial flavors, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d3, beta carotene (color), and potassium sorbate, lactic acid, tbhq and calcium disodium edta (to protect freshness).
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 50 calories, 6g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Organic (Not Sure if Ingredients / Nutrition Have Changed – Please Comment if You have New Packaging Information)
Ingredients: oil blend (palm fruit*, soybean*, canola* and olive* oils), water, salt, natural flavor*, crushed soybeans*, soy lecithin*, lactic acid (non-dairy), and naturally extracted annatto* (color). *organic. contains: soy.
Nutrition (per tablespoon): 80 calories, 9g fat, 0g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*
Discontinued Smart Balance Buttery Spreads
All “Light” versions were discontinued – with Flaxseed Oil, with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and with Omega 3. But, all of the regular versions were made significantly more light. In essence, the light versions replaced the regular versions.
More Facts on Smart Balance Buttery Spreads
- Price: $4.49 per 13- to 15-ounce tub
- Availability: Smart Balance Buttery Spreads are sold at mainstream grocers throughout the U.S., like Walmart, Kroger stores, Albertsons stores, and more. Look for them refrigerated in the butter section.
- Certifications: Smart Balance Buttery Spreads are Certified Kosher Pareve. The Organic variety is also Certified Organic.
- Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Smart Balance Buttery Spreads are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and keto-friendly. All non-organic varieties are now soy-free. Select varieties are vegan and vegetarian, but some one contains fish oil and some now contain vitamin D3 which might be of animal origin. Check with the company to confirm, if concerned.*
- For More Product Information: Visit the Smart Balance website at www.smartbalance.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
Change is terrible.
The new Smart Balance “original”. Is terrible. It has lost its’ buttery tastes, texture, and mouth feel of “butter”. It is now an oily terrible tasting product.
Smart Balance w/320 mg Omega-3
Bought this product with no knowledge that the formula had changed. The new product has a texture more like a whipped buttery spread rather than the solid texture that the previous formula had. The taste is more bland than the previous formula and it doesn’t melt on pancakes, etc like the original. Besides the soft whipped texture that is immediately noticed when it was melting in a frying pan you could see the water and oil separate in the pan. There is nothing I like about the new formula and I will have to start looking for another similar product on the shelves.
loyal customer until now
Smart Balance Original is a staple in our house. One of its advantages was its higher smoke-point (compared to butter) and its good flavor. All that is gone. I do hope ConAgra comes to its senses when sales plummet and grocers start refusing to stock products that are losing them money.
Disgusting
They changed the formula and now it’s like eating margarine. I returned it to Walmart and went back to real stick butter.
Not so great for baking
I found this article trying to figure out why I can’t get any air into it when I try to cream it with sugar for cookies. It’s runny and oily and won’t hold structure. I’m going to finish the batch, but I expect them to be dense and oily.
New Formula doesn’t melt
After years of being a loyal customer I am sad to say that I will no longer purchase this product.
Recently I purchased my Smart Balance at my local Kroger. I couldn’t figure out why when I had it in my refrigerator it was still soft. I used it on a toasted piece of bread and it didn’t melt. It stayed yellow. I took it back to the store thinking there was something wrong with it. They didn’t have anymore on the shelves so I went to Walmart. They had it but it was soft. After speaking with my mom who also uses this product she asked me to take a picture of the packaging to see if we could determine if there was a difference in the formula from the packaging she had in her fridge. Low and behold we could see that the oils went from 64% to 39%. This is VERY deceiving as the packaging is the same. Shame on Smart Balance for Not letting your loyal customers know that it is a NEW product. This was a waste of my time and money after shopping at 2 different stores.
Tastes like sour milk!
The Original spread went from tasting fine to tasting like sour milk with the new formula. Who likes to drink sour-tasting anything? The review option on their web site has a whopping 92% negative review after almost 300 reviews. Perhaps when their sales fall by 92% and their stock falls they will return to the former formula. I hope so…
New formula is tasteless mush
New formula soft like whipped but doesn’t melt on toast like whipped. Put some of the New stuff on broccoli to melt but ended up with salty water with globs of fat floating on it. Never happened with the Original original. This new “original” splatters in the frying pan, It is a tasteless mush. Does anybody have a good replacement to suggest?
Noticed changes
Not happy with soft consistency and taste is now very bland
Changed recipe, deceptive labeling
We opened a new tub of “ORIGINAL” Smart Balance, and noticed a difference immediately. Looking at the small print showed a range of changes. The product is not something we will buy again. Labeling ORIGINAL is deceptive. These moves do not seem like good business practices. But hey, when you’re Conagra what consumers think may be irrelevant, as long as they keep shareholders happy. Ugh.