It depends on the ingredients. Country Crock offers plant-based products that don’t have any non-vegan ingredients. However, many vegans still term Country Crock as non-vegan because it has a few controversial ingredients.
Here is what Country Crock has to say about its products being vegan or not.
Country Crock Plant Butter Variations and Ingredients
When it comes to Country Crock Plant Butter, you will see many conflicting statements about the margarine being 100% vegan or not. The best way to decide is to look at the ingredients and check if there are any controversial or gray-list ingredients.
Variations
- Country Crock Plant Butter Tub With Avocado Oil
- Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks With Sea Salt
- Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks With Olive Oil
- Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks With Avocado Oil
- Country Crock Plant Butter Tub With Olive Oil
Ingredients
All the 5 variations listed above have almost similar ingredients. The only difference is the flavor. For example, the variant with avocado oil has avocado in it, and one with olive oil has olive oil.
Let’s see which ingredients are on the gray list!
- Blend of plant-based oils (palm kernel, palm fruit oil, soybean, and variation flavor): Palm oil is technically vegan, but its farming is often against vegan beliefs. People who follow veganism as a lifestyle don’t just give up animal-derived ingredients. They also quit things that impact habitat and the environment, as in the case of palm oil. It puts palm oil in the gray-list, and many vegans tend to avoid it.
- Water: 100% vegan
- Salt: 100% vegan
- Faba bean protein: 100% vegan
- Soy lecithin: 100% vegan
- Lactic acid: 100% vegan
- Natural flavor: Country Crock has not specified the type of flavor they use in their plant-based products.
- Calcium disodium EDTA (to protect freshness): 100% vegan
- Vitamin E acetate: It is generally vegan but may be derived from or processed with non-vegan sources. Unfortunately, Country Crock hasn’t defined its source, making it another gray-list ingredient.
- Vitamin A palmitate: It may or may not be vegan. There is no source clarification from Country Crock. You can’t be 100% sure about it.
- Beta carotene (color): It is mostly vegan but can be non-vegan in a few cases.
Verdict
You can see that there are 3-4 ingredients that are on the gray list. The final decision to eat Country Crock or not is personal. You can also write to them and ask their opinion on these ingredients. However, PETA lists Country Crock as a vegan brand.
Vegan Margarine/Butter Brands
There is no shortage of vegan butter/margarine options. Here are some of the best ones you can buy.
Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread
Made from natural oil blends, salt, pea protein, and sunflower lecithin, Earth Balance’s buttery spread is 100% vegan and dairy free. It is creamy and tasty. You can spread it on toast or use it as an ingredient in home-baked treats.
Land O Lakes® Plant-Based Creamy Spread
It is another 100% vegan buttery spread option. Moreover, it is gluten-free and kosher. You can have it for breakfast or enjoy it with snacks and evening tea.
MIYOKO’S CREAMERY Organic Salted Vegan Butter
Miyoko’s organic vegan butter is made from cashew milk and coconut oil. It is a European-style spread with an authentic taste and a creamy texture. The buttery spread is free from lactose, palm oil, gluten, and soy.
Kite Hill Plant-Based Butter Alternative
Kite Hill’s butter is another excellent option for vegans to have. It is best for spreading, as a side, dip, and with snacks. It is made with cultured almond milk and cocoa butter, and it is free from palm oil.
Milkadamia Buttery Spread
The Milkadamia buttery spread is 100% vegan and easy to spread. It tastes creamy and delicious with warm toast, fruit, and snacks.
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
Not all, but some variations are vegan, and they taste great. You can have the vegan pack as it is made from 100% vegan ingredients.
Is Country Crock Plant Cream Vegan?
It is made from plant milk and plant oil blend. The ingredients have two controversial items (palm oil and sugar). Some refined sugar is made using bone char. Since Country Crock has not mentioned the source of sugar, you cannot be sure if it is made using bone char.
Is Country Crock Butter or Margarine?
Country Crock contains less than 80% fat, making it not margarine by U.S. Food & Drug Administration Standards for margarine. Country Crock tastes like butter, and you can use it as a spread. So, we can say that Country Crock is a spread much like butter, and that’s what most people say about it.
Is Country Crock Healthy than Butter?
Yes. It is healthy than butter because it has less saturated fat per serving. However, some of its products contain sugar. It is always better to eat margarine/butter in moderation.
Are Country Crock Baking Sticks Vegan?
It depends on the variation you are buying. The plant-based variations are vegan but contain palm oil. Palm oil is a controversial ingredient for vegans.
Is Country Crock Gluten-Free?
Yes. All Country Crock products are gluten-free.
Which Ingredients should I avoid as a Vegan?
You must always check the ingredients/labels before buying eatables as a vegan. However, certain ingredients are always a red line. Vegans must avoid whey, casein, glycerides, vitamin D3, palm oil/palm kernel, and vitamin A palmitate. Vitamin D3 and vitamin A are okay if they are plant-based.
