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Why Skippy labels its peanut butter as a 'spread' due to palm oil
Fox News • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. FDA requires peanut butter products to contain at least 90% peanuts to be labeled simply as "peanut butter"; otherwise, they must be labeled as "spread," as is the case with Skippy Natural Peanut Butter Spread due to its palm oil content.
- This regulation was established after concerns in the 1950s about manufacturers reducing peanut content by substituting cheaper oils, leading to a 1961 FDA standard that set peanut butter to contain no less than 90% peanuts and no more than 55% fat.
- The FDA also mandates clear labeling of any additional ingredients, such as glycerin or oils, that affect the classification and labeling of peanut butter products.
- Consumers are advised to read labels carefully to distinguish between true peanut butter and peanut spreads containing other oils or additives.
- Skippy’s parent company, Hormel Foods, was contacted for comment regarding these labeling requirements.
