Why Skippy Natural Can't Legally Be Called Peanut Butter

When it comes to interpreting food labels, fine print can actually be more important than we think. Subtle word choice can often conceal a significant difference in meaning, while average consumers usually take these labeling conventions for granted. Peanut butter is a spread, so the label "peanut butter spread" is the same thing, right? Well, not really. With products like Skippy's Natural Peanut Butter Spread, the word "spread" actually flags that what's inside can't legally be labeled as peanut butter. 

The FDA requires that any peanut butter products consisting of less than 90% peanuts, usually to make room for stabilizers and seasonings, must be called a spread. Additionally, the fat content of peanut butter can only be made up of peanut oil and/or hydrogenated vegetable oils. Skippy Natural contains palm oil, which, as it's not hydrogenated, disqualifies it from being labeled as just peanut butter. Palm oil in the peanut butter spread works as a stabilizer, preventing the peanut oil from creating an oily layer at the top of the jar.

In 1961, the FDA first proposed the rule dictating a minimum of 90% peanuts in any product labeled as peanut butter. This was after it was revealed that some peanut butter brands had reduced the peanut content by up to 20% by introducing non-peanut oils. The initial proposal sought a 95% minimum peanut level, but because consumers preferred peanut butters that spread easily and were sweetened, the regulatory minimum peanut content landed on 90%. When this happened, the FDA received pushback from Skippy, as well as Jif and Peter Pan (perhaps not coincidentally, all three brands appear on our roundup of the unhealthiest peanut butter brands). Ultimately, the spreadability, stability, and flavor preference for consumers is what dictates the makeup of Skippy Natural today, regardless of the words on the label.

While Skippy Natural is branded as a peanut butter spread, other products in Skippy's line are labeled as peanut butters. Skippy's Creamy Peanut Butter and Super Chunk Peanut Butter both contain the permitted hydrogenated vegetable oil, although these two products don't come recommended by our taste tester. Regardless of the brand, high levels of sodium, sugar, and hydrogenated vegetable oils are red flags to watch out for in peanut butter brands you find on the shelves.