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?