Is Country Crock Vegan?
It Depends
Not certifiedCountry Crock sells two completely different product families under one brand. The Plant Butter line (olive oil, avocado oil, almond oil, sticks and tubs) is fully vegan and certified by the Plant Based Foods Association. The classic Original Buttery Spreads (the familiar yellow tub) are not vegan because they contain Vitamin D3, which is derived from lanolin (sheep wool secretion). The Original line is technically dairy-free in the conventional sense since it uses vegetable oils rather than cream, which trips up many shoppers who assume "dairy-free" means vegan.
The catch: The flagship Original spread adds Vitamin D3, which is animal-derived (lanolin from sheep wool), making the classic tub not vegan even though it contains no milk or cream.
Category
Condiments
Verdict
It Depends
Brand
Country Crock (Flora Food Group)
Country Crock's Original Buttery Spread tubs list these ingredients on current labels: Purified Water, Soybean Oil, Palm Kernel and Palm Oil, Salt, Lecithin (Soy), Vinegar, Natural Flavors, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene (Color), Vitamin D3. That Vitamin D3 is the disqualifier for vegans.
It is extracted from lanolin, the waxy secretion from sheep wool, and then chemically processed. Older formulations (pre-2022) sometimes also listed whey on Amazon and grocery retailer labels, but current labels from Walmart, Kroger, and the brand site do not show whey.
If you have an older package, check for it. The Churn Style and Light variants follow the same base formula and also include Vitamin D3.
The Plant Butter line is a completely separate product: sticks use a blend of palm fruit, palm kernel, canola, and a flavored oil (olive, avocado, or almond) plus pea protein and soy lecithin. Tubs use faba bean protein instead.
None of the Plant Butter products add Vitamin D3 or any other animal ingredient. They are certified by the Plant Based Foods Association.
Note that "natural flavors" appear in both lines but appear to be plant-derived based on available information. Country Crock is owned by Flora Food Group, the same parent company as Violife.
Canadian formulations may differ slightly from US versions, so check the label if you are outside the US.
What makes it non-vegan
- ✕Vitamin D3 (lanolin-derived, in Original Buttery Spreads)
Vegan alternatives
- ✓ Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter
- ✓ Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread (vegan, no Vitamin D3)
- ✓ Violife Plant Butter
- ✓ Nutiva Organic Plant-Based Butter
- ✓ Melt Organic Butter Spread
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Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other condiments
Frequently asked
Is Country Crock Vegan?
Country Crock sells two completely different product families under one brand. The Plant Butter line (olive oil, avocado oil, almond oil, sticks and tubs) is fully vegan and certified by the Plant Based Foods Association. The classic Original Buttery Spreads (the familiar yellow tub) are not vegan because they contain Vitamin D3, which is derived from lanolin (sheep wool secretion). The Original line is technically dairy-free in the conventional sense since it uses vegetable oils rather than cream, which trips up many shoppers who assume "dairy-free" means vegan.
What is the catch with Country Crock?
The flagship Original spread adds Vitamin D3, which is animal-derived (lanolin from sheep wool), making the classic tub not vegan even though it contains no milk or cream.
What can I use instead of Country Crock?
Vegan options include Miyoko's Creamery European Style Cultured Vegan Butter, Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread (vegan, no Vitamin D3), Violife Plant Butter, Nutiva Organic Plant-Based Butter.
Is Country Crock certified vegan?
Country Crock does not carry a third-party vegan certification, so the verdict here is based on its current ingredient list and manufacturer information.
Sources
Last verified June 20, 2026. See how we verify. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
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