Foodservice and Food Ingredient FAQs

If you have questions about what Butter Buds® products and our formulation expertise can do for your business, you’re in the right place.

What is the rBST status of Butter Buds^®?

Currently all of our ingredients are rBST/rBGH free.

Do you have vegetarian or vegan options?

We have several vegetarian and vegan options. In fact, all of our non-dairy specialty products are vegan. Reach out to the Butter Buds® representative that services your area for a sample.

Are Butter Buds^® heart healthy?

Butter Buds^® organic butter, organic cream and organic cheese concentrates are low in fat, cholesterol and trans fat.

Do you have non-dairy versions?

We have several non-dairy options including dairy-free butter flavor and dairy-free cheese flavor. Reach out to the Butter Buds® representative that services your area for a sample.

How does Butter Buds® define clean label?

Our Clean Label options provide the same features and benefits as our standard ingredients without the use of maltodextrin as a carrier. We also removed colors, created shorter ingredient decks and when possible and used raw ingredients your consumers can easily understand (e.g. Baking Soda as compared to Sodium Bicarbonate.)

Are Butter Buds® products considered non-GMO?

The vast majority of our products are spray dried on IP NON-GMO maltodextrin and our other raw materials are also NON-GMO. We have a select few products that are spray dried on standard maltodextrin.

Do Butter Buds® products qualify for Non-GMO project verification? 

All of our Certified Organic products and some of our non-dairy options will qualify for Non-GMO Project Verification. Touch base with the Butter Buds representative that services your area for details.

How are your products labeled? 

Labeling our products is typically a process we leave up to our customers, however Butter Buds ingredients are typically labeled under the enzymolosis of dairy (or other fat) and therefore they qualify as “natural flavor” under 21 CFR 101.22 (a) (3). For a complete breakout please refer to the label declaration on the specific Butter Buds ingredient specification you are working with. 

Are Butter Buds® products "all natural"? 

Butter Buds does not use artificial flavors, colors or preservatives in our ingredients. With that said, since there is no clear definition as to what qualifies as “all natural” through the FDA/USDA, we leave the definition to our customer and suggest they base their claim off of our ingredient deck found on each specific product.

What is the conversion for 1 lb of butter? 

Butter Buds usage rates are subjective and based off of your particular application. There is no direct conversion from butter to one of our highly concentrated ingredients, however our experienced sales managers would be happy to help you.

Are your products bio-engineered? 

No, our products are not bio-engineered.

What is the shelf life of Butter Buds^®?

Butter Buds products shelf lives vary from 12, 18 and 24 months depending on the specific ingredient.

Are Butter Buds® products RTE? 

Butter Buds products are used in ready-to-eat applications, however that determination is typically left to our customers based off of their specific COA requirements.

Do you have organic products? 

We have several Certified Organic products. Our products are certified by Oregon Tilthe.

Do you have non-dairy versions? 

We have several non-dairy options. Reach out to the Butter Buds representative that services your area for a sample.

Ordering FAQs

What are your minimums?

For our stocked items our minimum order quantities are 1 bag (either 50 lbs or 25 kg). For our stocked oil / paste products our minimum order quantities are 1 pail (42 or 45 lbs). Minimum’s for made-on-demand items vary.

What is the pack size?

Typically, our dry stocked products are packaged in 50 lbs (or 25 kgs) bags. Our stocked oil /paste products are packed in (42 or 45 lbs) pails keeping the amount you have to purchase and invest in at a minimum.

What is the usage rate?

Usage rate will vary from applications to application, however typically our ingredients can be used as low as (0.1 – 0.25% TBW) in beverages / sauces / topicals / and products at low pH levels. Usually our products need to be used at slightly higher levels (1.0 – 4.0% TBW) when processing conditions are harsher and more water loss occurs baking / frying / extrusion.

Who is my sales rep?

Our Butter Buds Food Ingredients℠ network of global sales representatives is ready to assist you. Find the Butter Buds® representative that services your area by state or country.

Consumer FAQs

Here you will find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about Butter Buds^® concentrated butter flavor sprinkles. For more detailed information, please visit the Calorie Control Council, an excellent source.

What are Butter Buds^®?

Butter Buds^® are fat and cholesterol-free concentrated butter-flavored granules which can be used in place of butter, margarine or oil. Butter Buds are available in granulated sprinkles in a convenient shaker bottle.

How are Butter Buds^® Sprinkles sold?

Butter Buds^® Sprinkles are available in a 2.5 oz tabletop shaker.

Where are Butter Buds^® sprinkles sold?

Butter Buds^® Sprinkles are available nationally in many supermarkets and are usually found in the sugar substitute or baking aisles. To find a store near you, use our Store Locator. Or you can Buy Online.

How is Butter Buds^® used?

Butter Buds^® sprinkles are ideal as a topping for warm, moist foods such as potatoes, vegetables, pasta, rice and hot cereal. Butter Buds^® may also be used as a substitute for butter, margarine or oil in low fat cooking and baking.

Butter Buds Substitution Chart

Are Butter Buds® Sprinkles heart healthy?

Butter Buds® Sprinkles provide all the buttery flavoring of real butter with minimal fat and cholesterol, and zero grams of saturated fat and trans fat per serving.

Are Butter Buds® Sprinkles a real butter ingredient?

Yes, Butter Buds® Sprinkles are made with real butter so you can enjoy the delicious flavor of real butter without the guilt.

Ingredient & Nutrition

What is the caloric content of Butter Buds^®?

Butter Buds^® contain 10 calories per serving. Each one teaspoon serving (2g) is equivalent in flavor to about one tablespoon of butter or margarine, which contains about 100 calories and 8 grams of fat.

What are the ingredients in Butter Buds^®?

Butter Buds^® contain maltodextrin (a carbohydrate derived from corn), butter*, salt, butter flavor, rice starch, soybean lecithin, annatto and turmeric.
*Adds a dietarily insignificant amount of fat and cholesterol.

Are Butter Buds^® made with butter?

Butter Buds^® are produced from real butter through an enzymatic process that releases the flavor components of butter from the fat and water. After the flavor is released, it is then spray-dried to a powder-like form that is encapsulated with a water-soluble coating. The resulting Butter Buds^® sprinkles contain the original flavor of butter without the fat and cholesterol.

Are Butter Buds^® sodium-free?

Butter Buds^® contain a small amount of salt that provides only 60mg of sodium.

Are Butter Buds^® kosher?

Yes. Butter Buds^® is considered kosher by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis. It is not parve due to the fact that it contains dehydrated butter.

What is the shelf life of Butter Buds^®?

Butter Buds^® have a shelf life of approximately two years when stored under cool and dry conditions. To keep the sprinkles free flowing, make sure to close the top tightly and keep in a dry environment.

About the Brand

Who manufactures Butter Buds^®?

Cumberland Packing Corp. manufactures Butter Buds^® in Wisconsin. The Brooklyn, NY-based company also manufactures Sweet’N Low^® granulated sugar substitute, Sugar In The Raw^® turbinado sugar and Nu-Salt^®, sodium-free salt substitute.

How long has Butter Buds^® been available?

Butter Buds^® was first introduced in 1979. The Sprinkles form was introduced in 1987.