Peanut butter is a common staple across many cultures, particularly throughout America. Peanut butter comes in many different varieties depending on its ingredients and how it’s processed. In most cases, the ingredients found in most peanut butter products are plant-based but some exceptions exist.
In its simplest form, peanut butter is made of ground peanuts and salt. Some brands, like Jif and Skippy, process their peanut butter products with oils and sugar to enhance the consistency of the spread as well as the taste. Depending on the type of oil and other added ingredients, some vegans remain vigilant about the peanut butter they choose.
So, Is Peanut Butter Vegan?
For most store-bought products or grind-your-own types, yes, peanut butter is vegan-friendly and contains no animal-based products. However, despite the fact that most peanut butter products are vegan, there are a few exceptions to be aware of.
When is Peanut Butter NOT Vegan?
The only exceptions are when peanut butter spreads have added ingredients, like honey or chocolate. While many vegans are okay with consuming honey (despite it being sourced from bees), chocolate-infused nut butter (such as Nutella) contains dairy and is off-limits for most vegans.
Additionally, some conscious vegans are opposed to certain ingredients like palm oil (which is very common in mass-produced peanut butter). This is because palm oil production is linked to deforestation and the destruction of biodiverse forests and the species that inhabit them. So while palm oil is considered plant-based, some vegans may avoid this product for its environmental and ecological impact.
So while inherently vegan, you may want to be conscious about purchasing palm oil containing peanut butter, like Jif Natural Creamy and Earth Balance Creamy Peanut & Flaxseed Spread.
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About The Author
This review was conducted by Tyler Tafelsky, the lead editor here at VeganProteinPowder.reviews. Tyler is an experienced writer in the health, nutrition, and athletic space, and he offers over a decade of experience blogging on various reputable platforms. Having experimented with a vegan diet over the course of his life, Tyler has tried hundreds of plant-based nutritional products and writes about his favorites here on this blog. Learn more about Tyler by viewing his full author bio or by following him on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. You can also view his personal site TylerTafelsky.com to learn more about what he’s up to.