Bill Gates–Funded Startup Rolls Out Carbon-Based ‘Fake Butter’

A lab-grown butter alternative backed by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is igniting controversy among consumers, industry groups, and lawmakers.

The product, made by California-based company Savor, is described by the startup as “butter made from carbon.”

Social media posts have amplified concerns. One widely shared message alleged that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the product without independent safety testing, instead relying on company-provided data. Critics also claim the spread is already being used in restaurants and bakeries without clear labeling for customers.

Bill Gates' Fake 'Butter' Made From Human Waste Approved by FDA Without Safety Data

In a move straight out of a dystopian nightmare, the FDA has just greenlit a lab-grown, fake "butter" cooked up by a Bill Gates–funded startup in California. No labels. No warnings. Already… pic.twitter.com/Ro9hQ8ZBiw

— TPV Sean (@tpvsean) August 10, 2025

In June, the American Butter Association (ABA) formally urged the FDA to act against butter alternatives that, they argue, blur the lines between plant-based spreads and traditional dairy butter. In a June 25 letter to Dr. Claudine Kavanaugh, director of the FDA’s Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, the ABA warned that products like Savor’s — along with similar plant-based spreads — are often marketed in ways that could mislead shoppers.

The ABA noted that under U.S. law, “butter” has had a strict definition since 1906: it must be made from milk or cream from a cow. The group pointed to certain products on the market labeled “dairy-free butter” that feature traditional dairy imagery, such as barns and butter pats, while also including small-print disclosures that they are “79% plant-based oil spreads.”

“Using the label of ‘dairy free’ raises many concerns,” the ABA wrote. “Not only does it fool consumers into believing that a dairy-free version of butter could exist, but it also creates the impression that the product meets established butter standards when it does not.”

The association argues that such marketing not only conflicts with FDA labeling regulations but also sidesteps federal standards designed to protect consumers from deceptive branding. They contend that these products are essentially vegetable oil spreads — similar to margarine — but are being positioned to take advantage of the premium reputation of real dairy butter.

For now, the FDA has not publicly announced any enforcement actions related to the Savor product or others like it.

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