Peanut butter consists of ground peanuts or, sometimes, a mixture of peanuts, salt, sugar, and oil. This fan-favorite (and often vegan) spread makes a great sandwich and is often used in desserts and condiment recipes. Alas, things can get sticky when you come across jars of peanut butter with non-vegan ingredients blended in.
Here, we dive into the world of peanut butter and share why most are vegan, which products aren't vegan, and our expert shopping tips.
Why Peanut Butter Is Usually Vegan
Invented in the United States by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg in 1895, peanut butter contains peanuts and sometimes salt, sugar, and oil—all of which are plant-based ingredients. The peanuts are shelled, dry roasted, cooled, blanched, and ground into a paste until the desired consistency is reached. Chunky and smooth kinds of peanut butter are ground to varying degrees.
Hydrogenated vegetable oil found in the most common peanut butter brands, like Jif and Skippy, stabilizes the nut butter by preventing peanuts' natural oils from sitting at the top of the jar. The oil you see in natural peanut butters—where the only ingredients are peanut butter and salt—comes from the peanuts themselves and is not added vegetable oil.
When Is Peanut Butter Not Vegan?
While most peanut butter is safe for vegans, there are still a few considerations. First, non-vegan peanut butters might use honey as a sweetening agent, which is not vegan. Likewise, less common specialty spreads may include non-vegan chocolate swirled in a peanut butter jar—a delightful dessert, but not for plant-based eaters.
There is also the mystery of sugar's vegan status. The refining process of certain sugars might involve the use of a bone char filtration system to remove impurities. Check with your favorite peanut butter brands to see what their sugar processing involves, or choose nut butter without sugar.
Did You Know?
Palm oil is a popular addition to certain foods due to its long shelf life. However, its production is a major cause of deforestation and habitat loss, impacting a range of wildlife species. Some small peanut butter producers that include palm oil in their products work closely with organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which sets certain standards for sustainable palm oil production.
Types of Vegan Peanut Butter
We're giving you the vegan go-ahead on the following peanut butters. Above and beyond their vegan status, these brands incorporate high-quality ingredients and production methods.
- 365 by Whole Foods Organic Peanut Butter
- Yum Butter Organic Peanut Butter
- Justin's Classic Peanut Butter
- Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butter
- Spread the Love Organic Peanut Butter
- CB's Nuts Organic Peanut Butter
- Crazy Richard's Peanut Butter Co. 100% Peanuts
- Naked Nutrition Powdered Peanut Butter
- Georgia Grinders Creamy Peanut Butter
- Saratoga Peanut Butter Company's Plain Jane Creamy Peanut Butter
- Fortnum & Mason Crunchy Peanut Butter
- Hank's Protein Plus Vegan Peanut Butter
- Trader Joe's Peanut Butters
Types of Non-Vegan Peanut Butter
From peanut butter chocolate creations to jars that contain honey, some familiar grocery-store items are off-limits because they include animal-based components. Keep in mind that while standard peanut butters from conventional brands like Jif and Skippy are considered vegan, they do contain sugar, which could be made with bone char.
- Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter with Honey
- Peter Pan Crunchy Honey Roast Peanut Spread
- Skippy Roasted Honey Nut Creamy Peanut Butter
- Justin's Honey Peanut Butter
- Big Spoon Peanut Butter With Wildflower Honey
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
To determine if peanut butter is vegan, you should check the ingredient list on the product packaging. Ensure that the ingredient list does not include any animal-derived ingredients. To help determine if a product is vegan, look for “Certified Vegan” labels if unsure.
What is the difference between vegan peanut butter and regular peanut butter? ›
Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.
What is the best vegan peanut butter? ›
The good news is that two of America's favorite brands of peanut butter are vegan-friendly, and most of their products don't contain any non-vegan ingredients. You're good to go with Jif, with the exception of Jif Peanut Butter with Omega-3 and Honey Natural Jif Peanut Butter. Most of Skippy's products are vegan.
Is Skippy peanut butter plant-based? ›
Unlike some peanut butters that are made in facilities that process animal products and/or contain animal byproducts, Skippy® peanut butter is classified as 100% vegan. Skippy® peanut butter products are widely available at retailers across the United States.
Is jif peanut butter plant-based? ›
Jif Natural Peanut Butter is widely considered vegan because it contains only peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt, and molasses. Note, though, that sugar is often made with bone char, an animal ingredient, and that palm oil production drives deforestation, which deters many environmental vegans.
Is Peter Pan peanut butter plant-based? ›
Peter Pan products are not vegan but they are vegetarian.
What is the healthiest alternative to peanut butter? ›
Tree nut butters, such as almond, cashew, walnut, hazelnut, and pecan butters, are great substitutes for peanut butter. They all have similar nutritional profiles and provide heart-healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants.
Is Smucker's peanut butter vegan? ›
Smucker's® Marshmallow Artificially Flavored Spoonable Topping does not contain any ingredients derived from animal products. Is Smucker's® peanut butter vegan? Smucker's® Natural Peanut Butter does not contain any ingredients derived from animal products.
Does peanut butter need to be refrigerated after opening? ›
According to The National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last six to nine months at room temperature. Once opened, they say that it can last two to three months in the pantry before you should move it to the fridge, where it can maintain quality for another three to four months.
Should you refrigerate Skippy peanut butter? ›
SKIPPY® Peanut Butter opened or not is happiest when stored at room temperature. You can refrigerate it to savour its flavour for longer, but know that when refrigerated, it doesn't spread as easily. You should also know that SKIPPY® Peanut Butter doesn't like being too cold, so keep it freezer-free!
To name a few, Jif and Skippy are not technically vegan, according to company representatives. Jif products are at risk of cross-contact because the label's omega-3 peanut butter is made with fish oils and their honey peanut butter is made and packaged in the same facility as the original peanut butter formula.
What peanut butter is plant-based? ›
A Nuts 'N More first, vegan protein infused peanut butter. High protein peanut butter made from all natural plant based pea protein. Our vegan protein peanut butter is 100% natural, non gmo, rich in omegas from flax, low in sugar and delivers the same nuts 'n more taste that our fans have grown to trust.
Why is Jif not vegan? ›
Is Jif® peanut butter vegan? Some of our products do contain ingredients from animal origin, such as our Jif® Natural with Honey, so our products are not considered vegan at this time.
Can vegans eat peanuts? ›
Peanuts certainly qualify to be part of vegan and vegetarian diets. They provide important healthy nutrients and are loaded with plant based protein. As with any vegetarian diet , reading labels before purchasing is always advised.
Does vegan mean no peanuts? ›
Nutrients In Nuts & Where Else To Find Them. Peanuts and tree nuts are a great source of fatty acids and protein, which are especially important if you're on a vegan diet as you won't get those from animal products. But if you have to avoid peanuts or tree nuts, there are plenty of other plant-based sources to explore.
Which is healthier, regular peanut butter or natural peanut butter? ›
Peanut butter is rich in a variety of nutrients. But commercial peanut butter brands often have added sugars, oils, and fats. For the best health benefits from peanut butter, look for all-natural products without these added ingredients.
Is the sugar in peanut butter vegan? ›
Some types of peanut butter are not vegan
Furthermore, other brands use cane sugar in the product itself. Although sugar is vegan, cane sugar is sometimes filtered and bleached with bone char; rendering it non-vegan.
