The surprising evolution of plant-based margarine

What does Napoleon III have to do with the development of margarine? Quite a lot, as it turns out. The origins and evolution of plant-based margarines involve a lot more history — and dramatic changes in how people eat — than you might expect.
The forces that have driven human food options and preferences go way beyond simple habit or taste, and no food showcases this better than plant-based margarines.
A French emperor’s request
Napoleon III, nephew of the more famous Napoleon I, was the first president of France from 1848-1852, but then declared himself emperor, becoming the last French monarch. Due to food shortages in 1869, Napoleon offered a prize for someone to develop a dairy butter alternative for the armed forces. French chemist Hippolyte Mege-Mouries created “oleomargarine,” shortened to “margarine,” using beef tallow.
In 1871, Dutch company Jurgens bought the patent for margarine from Mege-Mouries and manufactured the first non-dairy spread. Jurgens joined with competitor Van den Bergh to form Margarine Unie. That company would later merge with the Lever Brothers to become Unilever.
Scientific improvements
Unlike early spreads, which relied mostly on ingredients like beef fat and lard, later experiments with vegetable oils achieved more success. Spurred in part by shortages in the supply of beef fat in the early 20th century, advances in hydrogenation of plant materials and the ability to harden oils improved on the product, leading to the first plant-based margarines. Manufacturers combined vegetable oils with animal fats to create their margarine.
Necessity is the mother of invention
Especially during times of food shortage and rationing, such as World Wars I and II, alternatives to dairy butter were in demand. In the 1940s, development of the votator process and the spreads tub made high-quality spreads at lower fat levels possible. By the 1950s, most margarine or oleomargarine used primarily plant-based oils in their products.
Not your grandmother’s margarine
Some improvements in nutritional content of plant margarines began in the 1960s. Then, in 1990, began the elimination of trans-fats and introduction of omega-3 rich plant oils into margarines. But the most dramatic makeovers of plant-based spreads have occurred in just the past decade. Today industries are taking on the challenge of producing more natural and healthier products that taste good — and are better for the environment. The newest version of the brands contain no trans-fats and is available in olive, almond or avocado oil varieties. The product comes in sticks and tubs, to be easily used for baking. These newest products use only simple, natural ingredients like plant oils (sunflower, sustainably sourced palm and rapeseed), fava bean protein, sunflower lecithin, water, salt and natural flavourings.
Changing priorities
Once seen as less natural or healthy than dairy-based butter, today’s plant-based margarines have come a long way from their humble/regal origins. Modern consumers seek the most healthy and natural ingredients they can find, increasingly turning to plant-based foods to improve their well-being. They contain 40% less saturated fat than dairy butter per tablespoon serving, and sticks contain 25% less saturated fat than dairy butter per tablespoon serving. According to the American Heart Association, eating too many foods high in saturated fats is associated with greater risk of raised LDL cholesterol levels, which increases consumers’ risk of stroke and heart disease. Choosing options lower in saturated fat is a positive step toward boosting overall health. Consumers today also care about environmental sustainability and the carbon impact of the food system on the planet. Producing plant-based foods like non-dairy spreads generates less greenhouse gas emissions and encourages more responsible use of land, water, fuel and fertilizer. From a simple means to feed a French army to a way to increase one’s health while being easier on the planet, plant-based margarines have evolved to become a trusted staple in many households worldwide.