"Butter" is a legally protected name
This protection is stipulated in France by decree (30 December 1988) and in the European Union through “Single CMO” regulation (n°1234/2007).
“Butter” may only be used to describe the water-in-fat emulsion product obtained by physically transforming dairy ingredients.
It is made from creams that may be pasteurized, frozen or deep frozen. The 1988 French decree regulates product names, cream processing, and the ingredients of butter and dairy specialities.