Is Peanut Butter Vegan? Exploring Plant-Based Nutrition

The Main Ingredient of Peanut Butter is Peanuts

Peanuts, which are packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, are the main ingredient in peanut butter. Since peanuts grow in the ground, they are considered a plant and therefore vegan. As long as the other ingredients mixed into peanut butter are also vegan, then peanut butter can be part of a plant-based diet.

Check the Ingredients List on Jars of Peanut Butter

When buying peanut butter, it’s important to check the ingredients list to ensure there are no non-vegan items included. Some peanut butter brands add sugar, salt, emulsifiers or other ingredients that could be derived from animals.

Which Peanut Butter Brands are Vegan?

Many popular peanut butter brands make types that are vegan. Some examples are:

Jif Natural Peanut Butter
Skippy Peanut Butter (some varieties)
Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter
Trader Joe’s Creamy No-Stir Peanut Butter

Homemade Peanut Butter Can Also Be Vegan

Making your own peanut butter at home takes just a few ingredients – fresh roasted peanuts and a small amount of salt are all you need. This allows you to control what goes into it. Homemade peanut butter makes for a simple, customizable vegan option.

Potential Animal-Derived Ingredients to Watch Out For

Here are some things for vegans to look out for on ingredient labels of some peanut butter brands:

Milk derivatives – whey protein, casein, lactose
Emulsifiers – mono- and diglycerides derived from animals
Sugar – some types use bone char for filtration
Vitamin D3 – often derived from lanolin from sheep’s wool

Peanut Butter Can Be Part of a Healthy Vegan Diet

Peanut butter delivers protein, vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats to a vegan lifestyle. It can help provide sustained energy, aid muscle and tissue repair and keep you feeling full for longer. When free of animal products, peanut butter is a nutritious addition to a compassionate, plant-based diet.

FAQ

Is commercially produced peanut butter vegan?

Some commercial peanut butter brands contain non-vegan ingredients like milk derivatives, emulsifiers, sugar filtered through bone char and vitamin D3 from sheep’s wool. However, many mainstream brands also offer vegan peanut butter varieties. Check the ingredients list.

What ingredients make peanut butter non-vegan?

Ingredients to look out for include milk products like whey protein, emulsifiers that contain animal derivatives, bone char filtered sugar and vitamin D3 sourced from sheep.

Can you make peanut butter at home?

Yes, homemade peanut butter is very simple to make. Just blend roasted peanuts and a pinch of salt in a food processor. Controlling what goes into it means it can easily be vegan.

Why do vegans choose peanut butter?

Peanut butter delivers essential nutrients like plant-based protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals that are important in a vegan diet. As a versatile snack or sandwich ingredient, it helps provide energy and nutrition in a diet free of animal products.

What should vegans look for to find a vegan peanut butter?

Read the ingredients labels and look for types that contain only peanuts and minimal ingredients like salt. Steer clear of those with milk products, bone char filtered sugar and animal-derived vitamin D3.