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butter
Oils & Fats
Trigger checker for butter
See butter rated across every trigger — FODMAP, histamine, salicylate, oxalate, tyramine and more — plus diet compatibility, all in one quick ingredient profile.
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Compare butter across criteria
Sensitivities
What butter contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where butter fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about butter
Butter is a dairy food, so it is flagged high for lactose, but the real amount is small: it is almost pure milk fat with only a little milk sugar and protein left in it. That is why many people who react to milk or cream still tolerate butter, and why clarified butter (ghee) removes almost all of what remains. The steadier concerns are the traces of casein and whey it keeps and the fact that, as a saturated animal fat, it is graded pro-inflammatory.
Watch for
- Flagged high for lactose as a dairy food, though it is mostly fat and holds only a little milk sugar, which is why it is often tolerated when milk is not
- Still contains casein and whey traces, enough to bother a strict dairy or milk-protein avoider
- Graded pro-inflammatory and not Mediterranean, paleo or vegan friendly, being a saturated animal fat
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FAQ
What does the FODMAP rating mean for butter?
Medium FODMAP: portion size matters more than the ingredient itself.
Is butter generally well tolerated?
Dairy Proteins (Avoid) and Lectin (Avoid) Start with those if you react.
What should I check next?
Compare within the Oils & Fats group.