Beware the Molecule Myth: Learn the Truth

Now we’ve heard some strange stories in our time, but this one has to take the proverbial (margarine-based) cookie! Lately it seems there have been some strange rumors that margarine is ‘one molecule away from plastic’! We’re not quite sure where this is coming from or what the link between margarine and plastic might be, but we’re determined to set the record straight and eliminate this margarine myth once and for all.

Is margarine plastic?

In a word, no. The idea is pure ‘non-science’ and the phrase ‘one molecule away from’ is essentially meaningless. That’s what the Montreal Gazette tells us, and it can also be dangerous to listen to these urban margarine myths; Using margarine as part of a healthy, balanced diet could be the path to a more nutritious diet and a more active lifestyle for you and your family.

The margarine manufacturing process is a healthy and natural recipe that uses nutritious ingredients that keep us supplemented with the good fats and vitamins we need. The margarine combines natural vegetable oils harvested from around the world, with water, – yes, good oil’ H2O.

Now normally oil and water are not that interested in mixing but we use the help of lecithin. Lecithin is the part of the egg yolk that binds the ingredients of our cake mix together and is called an emulsifier. Using an emulsifier, the oil and water combine beautifully to form the smooth, spreadable and satisfying margarine texture we love.

Add to the mix a little salt for flavor, a splash of preservative to keep our margarine beautiful and fresh, and a healthy dose of vitamins A and D for a nutritious bonus and off we go? Now, can you see any similarities between margarine and plastic?

You can even make your own margarine in your kitchen at home. However, we do not recommend that you make your own plastic! All you need to do is:

Blend half a cup of milk or soy milk in a food processor for one minute. Add a cup of vegetable oil, slowly and steadily, and mix for another two minutes. Make sure you choose the vegetable oil that you like best, because it will really affect the flavor. Add a few drops of liquid lecithin (you can buy it at your local health food store) and mix until the mixture is just the right consistency. Add a few drops of lemon juice as a preservative and season to taste. Seal in an airtight container and store in your refrigerator. You can try adding all kinds of flavors and spices to create your own custom blends.

We hope we cleared up that particular margarine myth for today and let us know how you get on with your homemade margarine, we’d love to see how it works!