This Midwestern US State Made It Illegal To Serve Faux Butter At Restaurants

Some foods just beg for butter. Spread some on warm toast or muffins. Melt it into a corn cob. Dip your lobster meat or pizza crust in a cup of garlicky butter sauce. One golden little square enhances all sorts of flavors, and for many of us, it's hard to imagine a baked potato or pile of asparagus without it. However, if you think a dollop of margarine will do the trick, there are some folks in Wisconsin who will disagree with you.

This isn't some friendly difference of opinion or something to laugh about over a plate of (buttered) collard greens. In Wisconsin, it is officially illegal for a restaurant to serve you a butter substitute in place of actual butter. If you're shaking your head, incredulous that such a law could exist, consider how serious the consequences are. Breaking the law could cost you $500 in fines or three months in prison. Just imagine, serving your 90 days in the clink, and when fellow felons ask what you're in for, all you can say is, "I served customers Country Crock with their biscuits."

The law's origins date back to 1895, when margarine was outlawed completely in the Badger State. Buying or selling "oleo," as it was then known, was a criminal offense (at a time when cocaine was perfectly legal). To be fair, most places in the world have statutes on the books that sound bizarre or pointless in hindsight; here, for example, are the 5 weirdest U.S. traffic laws you may encounter while traveling. But the anti-margarine crusade has churned for generations, mostly because of Wisconsin's proudest industry.

Wisconsin's dairy output is legendary, thanks to its 5,005 licensed dairy herds and nearly 1.3 million milk-making cattle. Not only does Wisconsin produce a massive amount of butter, but the average Wisconsinite consumes more than 3 pounds of butter each year, at least half a pound more than most Americans. Local farmers have a lot to be proud of — so much so that many butter packages actually bear the words "Proudly Wisconsin." It's not just savory spreads either, as Monroe, Wisconsin, is known as the "Swiss Cheese Capital of the USA."

So do you just skip the pancakes? Not necessarily. While it's against the law to serve unsolicited margarine at a restaurant in Wisconsin, it's perfectly legal for a customer to ask for a butter substitute and then receive it. This is a good loophole to know. If you'd prefer some Blue Bonnet or Earth Balance, all you have to do is ask. The only question is: Does a restaurant in Milwaukee or Green Bay actually have any? You'll just have to see.

After all, there are many reasons why a customer might not want actual butter derived from a cow. There are health reasons: butter, by nature, has a lot of cholesterol and saturated fat, which can be bad for your heart. There are ethical reasons: vegans avoid all dairy products, and most margarines are free of animal-based ingredients. Following a dietary regimen can be a serious challenge on the road, no matter what your motivation, especially in regions that cultivate foods you can't eat. Here are the 11 best ways to sneak in more fruits and vegetables while you're traveling.