It would seem the battle between butter and margarine is over as Unilever in September added butter to Rama in Germany, the biggest spread brand in that market.
The primary issue is the that margarine isn't selling.
Six straight quarters of declining sales with no indication that the trend will change in the near future, if ever.
Take note that this is not just a European trend, USDA data indicates that Margarine sales are at a 70 year low here in the States while butter is enjoying a 12 year high.
The reason I choose to highlight Unilever's decision is that people are trending toward consuming more fat and from natural sources. For decades organizations such as the American Heart Association have made saturated fat their target. Saturated fat was blamed for heart disease, strokes and weight gains. Their evidence, studies primarily funded by the Pharmaceutical industry, was flimsy at best and statistically flawed by new independent studies.
Recent research not only exonerates saturated fat but actually reveals that the low fat trend actually increased our consumption of refined grains and sugar leading to a gambit of metabolic disorders. To throw fuel to the fire, hydrogenated oils or trans fats that were substituted for good old animal fat have been linked to cancer and heart disease themselves and have been banned in some US cities.
In the end we are again put on notice that businesses have one agenda and that is profits. They are not in business to improve your health, that is your responsibility. They take advantage of trends and fill the needs and desires of consumers. This decision by Unilever is simply a business model going bad and a company attempting to recapture lost market shares. Its has nothing to do with heath, just business. So when Mr Polman or any other food processor cries "Wolf" please remember to follow the money before you follow their advice.
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| David Marcon, DC 463 Ohio Pike, Suite 104 Cincinnati, Ohio 45255 513-474-1111 www.marconchiropractic.com |
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