Is Kerrygold Really Grass-Fed?

The Short Answer

Kerrygold butter is mostly grass-fed, but not 100%. Because grass doesn't grow year-round in Ireland, the cows are brought indoors during the coldest months and fed a supplemental diet.

This means about 85% to 90% of their diet is grass, while the rest is made up of grains like soy and corn. If you are strictly avoiding all grain or GMOs in your dairy, Kerrygold doesn't pass the test.

However, if you're just looking for a massive upgrade over conventional butter without spending $8 a block, it remains a very solid choice. Kerrygold Vs Regular Butter

Why This Matters

Grass-fed butter is prized for its higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin K2, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). When cows eat grain, the nutritional profile of their milk degrades. You lose some of the anti-inflammatory benefits that make grass-fed dairy a true superfood. Is Grass Fed Butter Healthier

The confusion around Kerrygold sparked a massive class-action lawsuit in 2018. Consumers felt duped by the brand's pastoral marketing, leading to a legal battle over what "grass-fed" actually means. While the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, it forced a national conversation about dairy industry loopholes.

Furthermore, the brand faced a second major lawsuit in 2023 over PFAS "forever chemicals" in their iconic gold foil wrappers. The company had to pull their products from shelves in New York and California, redesign their packaging to be PFAS-free, and relaunch. Today's packaging is clean, but the incident damaged the brand's reputation for purity. Is Butter Healthy

What's Actually In Kerrygold

• Pasteurized Cream — Sourced from Irish cows that spend up to 312 days a year on pasture. This high grass intake gives the butter its famous deep yellow color and rich flavor. European Vs American Butter
• Salt — Used in the salted version, this acts as a natural preservative and flavor enhancer.
• Lactic Acid Cultures — Found only in the unsalted version, these bacteria ferment the cream for a tangier flavor and longer shelf life.
• Winter Feed Supplement — A blend of wheat, barley, soy, and corn fed to cows during the winter. Kerrygold admits that roughly 3% of the cow's total annual diet comes from GMO grains.

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• High Butterfat Content — Kerrygold clocks in at 82% butterfat, which is higher than the US standard of 80%, meaning less water and better performance in baking.
• Massive Pasture Time — 312 days on pasture is significantly more outdoor time than almost any conventional American dairy cow gets.

Red Flags:

• GMO Feed Exposure — The presence of GMO soy and corn in the winter feed is a dealbreaker for strict organic consumers.
• Misleading Marketing — The brand leans heavily on "pure" and "grass-fed" claims without making the supplemental winter grain obvious to casual buyers.

The Best Options

If you want better butter, you have to read the fine print. Here is how the top brands stack up. Best Butter Brand

The Bottom Line

1. Manage your expectations. Kerrygold is roughly 85-90% grass-fed, not 100%.

2. Watch out for GMOs. If you need strict non-GMO dairy, you must buy certified organic grass-fed butter instead. Is Grass Fed Butter Healthier

3. Don't stress about the packaging. As of mid-2023, Kerrygold has completely removed PFAS forever chemicals from their wrappers.

FAQ

Was Kerrygold sued for not being grass-fed?

Yes, a class-action lawsuit was filed in 2018 claiming false advertising over their grass-fed marketing. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, but it brought public attention to the fact that Irish cows eat grain during the winter. Kerrygold Vs Regular Butter

Did Kerrygold change their packaging because of PFAS?

Yes, in early 2023 Kerrygold was pulled from shelves in New York and California due to state laws banning PFAS in food packaging. They quietly reformulated their foil wrappers and returned to shelves with PFAS-free packaging later that year.

Is Kirkland grass-fed butter better than Kerrygold?

Kirkland's grass-fed butter is sourced from New Zealand and is reportedly 95% grass-fed, which is slightly higher than Kerrygold's 85-90%. However, many chefs still prefer Kerrygold for its superior taste and higher butterfat content. Best Butter Brand

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