The US Food & Drug Administration has a regulation that requires peanut butter products to contain at least 90% peanuts in order to be labeled as such. However, if a product contains less than 90% peanuts, it must be labeled as a "peanut butter spread" instead.
This regulation is in place to prevent manufacturers from diluting peanut butter with cheaper ingredients. In the 1950s, the FDA found that some peanut butter products had reduced their peanut content by up to 20% by substituting cheaper oils for peanuts and peanut oil.
As a result, the FDA proposed a new standard in 1961, which required peanut butter products to contain at least 90% peanuts and no more than 55% fat. This standard was approved by the US Appeals Court and has been in place ever since.
Skippy, a well-known peanut butter brand, must label its Natural Peanut Butter Spread as such because it contains palm oil, which is not considered a peanut. According to the Skippy website, this labeling requirement is due to the FDA's regulation, which states that products with less than 90% peanuts must be labeled as a "spread".
The FDA's regulation is intended to ensure that peanut butter products are accurately labeled and meet certain standards. By checking the label, consumers can determine whether a product meets the standard for peanut butter or if it is a peanut butter spread.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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