Peanut Butter Brands You Should Never Buy

Peanut butter, a staple in pantries around the world, is celebrated not only for its creamy (or crunchy) goodness but also for its nutritional benefits. Rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and vitamin E, natural peanut butter can be a nutritious addition to any diet. It supports heart health, aids in weight management, and can even boost energy levels, making it a favorite among athletes and health enthusiasts alike.

However, not all peanut butter is created equal. Processed peanut butter often contains added sugars, hydrogenated oils, and excessive salt, detracting from the natural health benefits of peanuts. These additives can contribute to health issues such as weight gain, heart disease, and elevated blood pressure, undermining the wholesome goodness of natural peanut butter. Thus, while peanut butter can be part of a healthy diet, it's crucial to choose varieties that are as close to their natural state as possible, avoiding those that are heavily processed.

The Goodness of Natural Peanut Butter

Natural peanut butter is made with minimal ingredients, typically just peanuts and sometimes a small amount of salt. This simplicity retains the nuts' nutritional value, offering a healthy dose of protein that helps build and repair muscles, making it a favorite among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Moreover, the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in natural peanut butter are heart-healthy, contributing to lower cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Peanuts are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium, which support overall health. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, magnesium supports muscle and nerve function, and potassium helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure. Additionally, natural peanut butter is rich in dietary fiber, promoting digestive health and aiding in weight management by keeping you feeling fuller longer.

The Pitfalls of Processed Peanut Butter

On the flip side, processed peanut butter often includes added ingredients like sugars, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and excessive amounts of salt. These additives can negate the health benefits of the peanuts themselves. For example, added sugars contribute to unnecessary calorie intake, which can lead to weight gain and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Hydrogenated oils, or trans fats, are used to extend shelf life and improve texture but are linked to heart disease and other health issues.

The high sodium content in some processed peanut butters can also be a concern, especially for individuals with high blood pressure. Consuming foods high in salt can contribute to increased blood pressure levels, posing a risk to cardiovascular health.

10 harmful peanut butter brands out there:

Trader Joe's Salted Peanut Butter

• questionable ingredients: salt

• average cost: $2.49/16 ounces

Trader Joe's only makes our list because of the added salt. It's wholly unnecessary. Start your kids off right. Unsalted peanut butter tastes fine, especially when you've never had the salted variety. Though China has the highest salt consumption per capita, the United States is number 2. For a company that sells itself as a healthful alternative, the added salt is not a good look.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, high-salt diets can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from bone. While kids are growing bone health is of the utmost importance.

Go Nuts, Co. Plain Protein + Peanut Butter

• questionable ingredients: xylitol

• average cost: $6.00/15 ounces

Go Nuts, Co. Plain Protein + Peanut Butter makes our list not for what it can do to you, but for what it can do to your dog. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is exceptionally toxic to dogs, even in very small amounts. Especially if you have small children who are apt to share their bounty with Bowser, think twice before purchasing this brand.

Smucker's Reduced Fat Natural Style Creamy Peanut Butter

• questionable ingredients: maltodextrin*, reduced fat peanuts*, salt

• average cost: $3.50/16 ounces

The asterisks indicate ingredients not in regular natural peanut butter. No kidding. Maltodextrin is a sugar substitute that has a higher glycemic index than sugar!?!?! For this reason, diabetics need to be aware! And reduced-fat peanuts? Well, now they're just making stuff up. FWIW, they probably meant ingredients not in OUR regular natural peanut butter, but that's not what the label states.

Peanut Butter and Co. Smooth Operator

• questionable ingredients: salt, sugar, palm oil

• average cost: $5.00/16 ounces

Conscientious consumers do not purchase products that contain palm oil. The harvesting of palm oil is a leading cause of deforestation around the world. And for what? For the sake of convenience: the palm oil keeps the peanut butter from separating. The sugar and salt are equally as superfluous.

Peanut Butter and Co. White Chocolatey

• questionable ingredients: cocoa powder, salt, sugar, palm oil

• average cost: $5.00/16 ounces

Same story, morning glory. In chapter three, we meet the additional ingredient of cocoa powder. There are ethical concerns regarding cocoa powder, principally concerning child labor. Though Peanut Butter and Co. White Chocolatey may not be as unhealthful as some other brands, it's got two strikes against it, ethically speaking.

Peter Pan Original Creamy

• questionable ingredients: sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oils (cottonseed and rapeseed), partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, salt

• average cost: $2.75/16.3 ounces

This is the peanut butter of my youth, and I can distinctly recall its smooth texture and penchant for sticking to the roof of one's mouth, that even a whole glass of milk couldn't wash away. I'm guessing that stick-with-it-ness is related to hydrogenated fats and their associated health issues. While tenacity is an admirable quality in some things, peanut butter is not one of them.

Years ago, Peter Pan shipped a ton of peanut butter contaminated with salmonella. That case made at least 600 people sick and the company had to pay out over $11 million in settlements. Now Peter Pan has claimed they cleaned up their act and there hasn't been a case since but you can never be to careful.

Smucker's Goober Grape

• questionable ingredients: grape juice, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, distilled monoglycerides, salt, pectin, citric acid, potassium sorbate (preservative), sodium citrate.

• average cost: $4.25/18 ounces

I love the idea of Smucker's Goober Grape. I begged for it as a child. And the fact that goober is another name for peanuts in the Southern United States makes me love the name. But the idea of eating it? The high fructose corn syrup alone is enough to make me pass. Potassium sorbate, a mold and yeast suppressant that is considered generally safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is heavily regulated in Europe. This is due to its status as a genotoxin. A genotoxin is an agent that causes DNA or chromosomal damage. Be a savvy consumer. Read labels. And remember that in the world of peanut butter, less is more.

Great Value Peanut Butter

• questionable ingredients: sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil (cottonseed oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil) salt, molasses, monoglycerides

• average cost: $1.84/16 ounces

This brand checks all of the boxes for the worst peanut butter ever. Added sugar? Check. Hydrogenated fats? Check. Salt? And check. At less than $2.00/16 ounces, it is an affordable alternative, but a great value? Not so much.

Jif Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter

• questionable ingredients: corn syrup solids, sugar, pea protein, salt, fully hydrogenated vegetable oils (rapeseed and soybean), mono and diglycerides, molasses, magnesium oxide, niacinamide, ferric orthophosphate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid.

• average cost: $3.25/16 ounces

Though not all of the additional ingredients in Jif Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter are bad for you, they are all questionable. The final seven listed ingredients are vitamins and minerals added to boost the nutritional value of the product. Noble as it seems, these nano additions hardly make up for the corn syrup solids, sugar, and fully hydrogenated oils.

Reeses

• questionable ingredients: sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil (rapeseed, cottonseed, and soybean oils), salt, peanut oil, monoglycerides, molasses, cornstarch

• average cost: $3.50/18 ounces

Same song, second verse; could get better, but it doesn't. It gets worse. Besides the added sugar, fat, salt, and emulsifiers, Reeses throws in molasses for a touch of extra sweet stickiness, and cornstarch as a thickener. All of these additional ingredients add bulk to the product and the Hershey Trust's coffers while lowering the nutritional value and overall product quality.

Choosing the Right Peanut Butter

When selecting peanut butter, it's essential to read the label carefully. Opt for brands that list peanuts as the only ingredient, or those with minimal added salt. Avoid products with added sugars, hydrogenated fats, and artificial preservatives.

Moreover, the texture—creamy or crunchy—is a matter of personal preference and doesn't typically affect the nutritional content. However, the method of processing can impact the health benefits. For instance, some natural peanut butters are made using a cold-pressing process that retains more nutrients compared to those that are heavily processed.

Sustainable and Ethical Considerations

Beyond health concerns, many consumers are now looking at the environmental and ethical implications of their food choices. Sustainable farming practices and fair labor conditions are increasingly important factors in deciding which brands to support. Look for peanut butter brands that are transparent about their sourcing and production methods, and consider those certified organic or fair trade.

The Bottom Line

Peanut butter can be a nutritious addition to your diet when chosen wisely. Natural peanut butter offers a wealth of health benefits without the drawbacks of added sugars and fats found in processed versions. By making informed choices, consumers can enjoy this beloved spread while supporting their health, the environment, and ethical practices in the food industry.

In conclusion, while peanut butter remains a dietary staple for many, the type of peanut butter you choose can have a significant impact on your health and the world around you. Opting for natural, minimally processed peanut butter ensures that you reap the benefits of this nutritious food while avoiding the pitfalls of added ingredients.