'Awful': Kiwis rage over colour and 'slimy' taste of cheap US butter in NZ shops

Kiwis are spotting a US butter on supermarket shelves - and while it’s cheaper, even Americans are warning Kiwis to avoid the stuff.

A post on NZ Reddit reported that Pak n Save is selling Pak’nSave selling The Burtfield’s & Co American butter for $6.99, compared to the likes of NZ-made staples like Mainland and Anchor, which go for upwards of $8.

But despite the potential relief for wallets, Kiwis are NOT impressed. The Burtsfield butter is pale, almost white, compared to our precious golden yellow spread - likely because US cows are grain-fed, whereas Kiwi cows are typically used to chomping on grass.

Taste-wise it's not on par, not even close. “This is sooo wrong….” one Redditor wrote.

Another said: “Ngl, it tastes pretty awful. Leaves a slimy coating in your mouth.”

“Oh god, I didn’t realise it was American… it bubbled up frothy when I melted it for ginger crunch,” added a third.

“I’d go without butter before buying American ‘butter’,” someone else claimed.

Even the Americans get it, with one saying: “American here… Don’t eat that."

Someone else wrote: “As an American who brought back kilos of NZ butter every time I went there… American butter is shite."

“Don’t fall for it!" Another warned. "Your butter is so much better than ours!”

Despite the backlash, the butter is on trial in North Island Pak’nSave stores and will roll out to South Island Pak’nSave and New World supermarkets next week.

Dairyworks Sales GM Mark Simpson told NZ Herald that they’ve imported four to six weeks’ supply, depending on demand.

Based on the current feedback doing the rounds, I reckon most of us would rather go without than swap our golden Kiwi butter for the pale "tasteless" stuff.