Frequently Asked Questions

Becel^® products are made from a blend of canola and vegetable oils, as well as 100% physically certified sustainable palm oil and modified palm kernel oil. This helps give our products the delicious, spreadable quality Canadians have come to love. We believe the 100% physically certified sustainable palm oil is preferable, from an environmental, taste, performance and health perspective. To read more about palm oil and our sourcing policies, click here.

Simply put, hydrogenation is a process that hardens liquid oil to make it spreadable at room temperature and results in increased saturated fat levels. Partial hydrogenation on the other hand, increases both saturated fat and trans fat levels.

You might be interested to hear that our Becel^® soft margarines - the kind found in our classic Becel^® tubs - are all non-hydrogenated and trans-fat free.

Good eye. The amount of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, saturated fat and trans fatty acids in a non-hydrogenated margarine adds up to only 7.6 g – 95 per cent of the total fat. The other five per cent (0.4 g) comes from glycerol, a natural component that holds the polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates together to form the fat.

Great question. The percentages listed on our lids show the proportions of plant-based oils included in any given product – it will always equal 100 per cent. The percentages shown in the ingredient deck instead show the percentage of those oils relative to all other ingredients in the product.

No peanut oil or peanut ingredients are used in the making of Becel^® products. In fact, our products are made in a 100 per cent nut-free facility.

Most of our margarines contain buttermilk powder or whey powder. Lactose is present in both. If you’d like a lactose and dairy free option, try our Becel^® Vegan blend.

Not all fats are the same. For instance, animal fats contain higher amounts of saturated fat than most plant-based fats or oils. Becel^® Original margarine has 80% less saturated fat than butter. It also provides a source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fat, a good type of fat that when used to replace saturated fat in ones’ diet, can help to lower cholesterol levels. More information here.

Absolutely, but not all margarines are created equal. Here’s a tip: start by looking at soft, non-hydrogenated margarines. Choose one labelled "low in saturated fat" and "trans fat free". More information here.

We use Canadian-grown canola oil in our Becel^® products, along with a blend of other plant-based oils. Canola oil is a great option as it has one of the lowest levels of saturated fats among all plant-based oils, and contains omega-3 and omega-6 essential fats.

Canada's Food Guide recommends including a small amount (2-3 tbsp) of unsaturated fat each day, which includes soft, non-hydrogenated margarines that are low in saturated and trans fat. Becel^® Original margarine offers 80% less saturated fat than butter and has no trans fats.

Yes. Regular margarine has 8 g of fat per 10 g serving (2 teaspoons), while calorie-reduced margarine, including Becel^®Light, has 4 grams of fat per 10 g serving (2 teaspoons). Becel^® margarine has no trans fat and is low in saturated fat, which helps make it a great addition to a heart-healthy diet – not to mention a delicious one!

Trans fats are sometimes referred to as 'bad fats' because they have been shown to raise blood cholesterol levels. They occur naturally in some foods, including butter and meat. You’ll also find them in some processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated fats.

Becel^® margarine is non-hydrogenated and has never contained trans fatty acids! In case you’re curious, Becel^® margarine only contains one gram of saturated fat per 10 gram (2 teaspoon) serving – that’s 80% less than in the same amount of butter!

For your specific dietary needs, we recommend speaking with your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian. However, you may be interested to hear that Diabetes Canada recommends choosing healthy fats, like those found in Becel^® margarine. Read more.

All of our Becel^® margarine blends are kosher dairy, except Becel^® Vegan which is kosher pareve. Our oils (Becel^® Oil and Becel^® Olive Plus™) are kosher pareve.

Good news: we offer a salt-free blend appropriate for sodium-reduced diets. Be sure to consult your doctor or dietitian to confirm whether it suits your specific dietary needs and allowances.

No. Just like when you first take it out of the fridge, Becel's spreads are free from trans fats when cooked or baked at the temperature used in normal cooking.

Sadly, that information is proprietary, but you can rest assured the ingredients are derived from plant-based sources.

Most of our Canadian Becel^® margarine blends include buttermilk powder, so they cannot be considered vegan. If you’re on the hunt for a margarine free from animal byproducts (or are just looking to try something new), consider our Becel^® Vegan blend.

You’ll be pleased to hear that this simply isn’t true. Plastics are made of molecules called polymers, while margarine is made with plant-based oils including Canadian-grown canola oil and sunflower oil. They’re completely different. To learn more about how Becel^® products are made, click here.

Yes. Our Canadian Becel^® margarine recipes rely on canola grown by Canadian farmers. We're committed to supporting them, and appreciate that it’s difficult to grow a sustainable supply of GMO-free canola at this time.

The following Becel^® Products are Halal Certified: Becel^® Vegan, Becel^® with Oat Beverage, Becel^® Plant-Based Salted Bricks and Becel^® Plant-Based Unsalted Bricks.

Ants can eat almost anything humans do, including margarine. However, they prefer sweet or animal protein-based foods. Our Becel^® margarine is great-tasting, but it's not sweet. It’s also made with plant-based oils rather than animal protein. Simply put: it's just not for ants.