Odd But True: Are You Abiding By Wisconsin’s Butter Laws?

Did you know that Wisconsin once banned margarine for over 70 years? Yep, from 1895 to 1967, margarine was practically a criminal in the state.

They Went to War Over Butter

This all stemmed from something called the Wisconsin Oleo Wars. “Oleo” is another name for margarine, and the butter-loving folks in Wisconsin weren’t having any of it. Margarine was seen as a threat to their precious dairy industry, so they passed laws that made margarine illegal or heavily restricted it. It wasn’t until the late '60s that they finally lifted the full ban, but some of those old laws are still hanging around like a stubborn piece of chewing gum on the sidewalk. 

Don't Risk Arrest Over Butter

Even now, if you're in Wisconsin, don’t try to sneak margarine past the butter lovers unless you're following the rules. According to Wisconsin law, if you’re a restaurant, you can’t just serve margarine as a butter replacement unless a customer specifically asks for it. So, if you’re in a Wisconsin diner and they offer you margarine with your bread or rolls by default, they’re breaking the law! It’s butter or nothing unless you say otherwise. 

How Wierd Can It Get?

And it gets weirder—margarine isn’t allowed in schools, hospitals, or prisons unless a doctor orders it for health reasons. So, if you're in a Wisconsin school and your cafeteria is serving up margarine instead of butter, that’s a major red flag. Someone’s been messing with the state’s butter-loving laws. 

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What Does It Cost For a Margarine Infraction?

Now, the fines and penalties for violating these laws aren’t light. If a restaurant or public institution gets caught, they could be looking at fines anywhere from $100 to $500 and possibly three months in jail for a first offense. And if they’re a repeat offender? They’re looking at up to a thousand bucks and a year in jail. For serving margarine. This isn’t a “slap on the wrist” kind of situation. Wisconsin takes its butter very seriously. 

Even though the full margarine ban ended decades ago, these laws are like a nostalgic homage to the good old butter days. So, if you’re ever in Wisconsin and you’re trying to sneak some margarine into your meal, just know: you might be risking jail time. Keep the margarine in your bag and don’t forget to ask for it by name!