Science & technology | Well informed

Is butter bad for you? 

A new study suggests olive oil may be a healthier alternative

A knife spreading butter on a toast. A person is spread a the same time.
Illustration: Cristina Spanò

BUTTER IS HAVING a moment. In 2024 American consumption per person hit its highest in almost 60 years. Long-standing fears about fat’s impact on heart health seem to be dissipating: today, fat is in and it is carbohydrates, sugars and processed foods that are out. But a new scientific study reports that butter-eating is associated with an early death. So: is butter really bad for you?

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This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Is butter bad for you? ”

From the March 15th 2025 edition

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