Beyond being a simple sandwich spread, peanut butter is a surprisingly powerful little package—with over 25% protein by weight, a single two-tablespoon serving delivers a substantial 8 grams of protein, 12% of your daily magnesium, and a remarkable 89% of your daily selenium per 100 grams, all for just 190 calories.
Key Takeaways
- Peanut butter contains approximately 190 calories per 2 tablespoon serving
- A 2 tbsp serving of peanut butter provides 8 grams of protein
- Peanut butter has 16 grams of total fat per 2 tbsp serving
- US peanut production reached 5.5 billion pounds in 2022
- Georgia produces 52% of US peanuts
- Average US peanut yield was 4,800 pounds per acre in 2022
- Americans consume 700 million pounds of peanut butter yearly
- Per capita peanut butter consumption is 3.2 pounds annually in US
- US peanut butter market size $2.5 billion in 2022
- Peanut butter reduces heart disease risk by 38%
- Regular intake lowers LDL cholesterol by 11%
- Peanut butter linked to 21% lower diabetes risk
- Peanut butter invented in 1890s by John Harvey Kellogg
- First commercial PB sold by Krema Products 1922
- George Washington Carver developed 300 PB uses
Nutritious and beloved, peanut butter is a popular, protein-rich staple with health benefits.
Consumption and Market
- Americans consume 700 million pounds of peanut butter yearly
- Per capita peanut butter consumption is 3.2 pounds annually in US
- US peanut butter market size $2.5 billion in 2022
- 90% of US households buy peanut butter yearly
- Jif brand holds 43% market share
- Skippy has 25% of US peanut butter market
- Global peanut butter market projected to reach $5.7 billion by 2030
- Europe consumes 200,000 tons of peanut butter annually
- Australia per capita consumption 1.5 kg/year
- China peanut butter sales grew 15% in 2022
- Organic peanut butter sales up 12% yearly
- Crunchy peanut butter preferred by 52% of consumers
- 40% of peanut butter eaten on bread/toast
- Exports of US peanut butter 150 million pounds/year
- Canada imports 60% of its peanut butter from US
- Peanut butter sales peak in January (resolutions)
- Plant-based alternatives cut market by 5%
- Millennial consumption 20% higher than average
- Online sales of peanut butter rose 25% post-COVID
- Private label peanut butter share 18%
- Peanut butter in snacks segment grew 8%
- Daily consumption by 25% of Americans
Consumption and Market Interpretation
American peanut butter consumption—a $2.5 billion testament to our spreadable devotion—shows we are a nation firmly stuck to our childhoods, collectively insisting that a sandwich is not a sandwich unless it can, scientifically, stick to the roof of your mouth.
Health Benefits and Risks
- Peanut butter reduces heart disease risk by 38%
- Regular intake lowers LDL cholesterol by 11%
- Peanut butter linked to 21% lower diabetes risk
- Provides antioxidants reducing inflammation by 15%
- Oleic acid in PB aids weight management
- 1 serving daily cuts gallstone risk by 25%
- Resveratrol in peanuts boosts brain health
- Peanut consumption reduces stroke risk by 13%
- High fiber aids digestion, prevents constipation
- Vitamin E protects skin from UV damage
- 1.5% of children have peanut allergy
- Anaphylaxis occurs in 0.6% of US population from peanuts
- Allergy prevalence doubled from 1997-2008
- Aflatoxin risk in 5% of contaminated peanuts
- High calorie density 588 kcal/100g risks obesity
- Added sugars in some brands exceed 10g/serving
- Trans fats in hydrogenated PB increase heart risk
- Salmonella outbreaks linked to PB 5 times since 2000
- Arginine content may lower blood pressure by 5 mmHg
- Niacin prevents pellagra deficiency
- Biotin in PB supports hair/nail health
- Reduces colon cancer risk by 20% with regular intake
Health Benefits and Risks Interpretation
Peanut butter is the edible equivalent of a thrillingly competent but occasionally rogue super-agent, offering a robust list of heroic health benefits while its villainous side carries a dossier of serious allergies and potential contaminants.
History Culture Fun Facts
- Peanut butter invented in 1890s by John Harvey Kellogg
- First commercial PB sold by Krema Products 1922
- George Washington Carver developed 300 PB uses
- PB patented by Joseph L. Rosefield in 1928
- Elvis Presley ate PB banana sandwiches daily
- PB&J declared official sandwich of US Navy 1960s
- World record PB&J sandwich 1,342 lbs made 1997
- PB used as lubricant during WWII
- Ancient Incas ground peanuts 3500 years ago
- PB sales boomed post-WWII with women workforce
- Skippy named after cartoon dog 1933
- Jif slogan "Choosy moms choose Jif" since 1958
- PB Cup created by Hershey 1920s
- National Peanut Butter Day is January 24
- PB jars sold 800 million units in US 2022
- PB inspired "I like PB" political slogan 1980
- Astronauts take PB on space missions since Apollo
- PB used in art by Salvador Dali surrealism
- World's largest PB jar 1.98 meters tall in Australia
- PB exports to 75 countries from US
History Culture Fun Facts Interpretation
Peanut butter, with a history spanning from ancient Incan grinding to astronaut snacks, has proven itself an unexpectedly versatile and enduring spread, uniting practical necessity, cultural iconography, and a surprising dash of surrealism.
Nutritional Facts
- Peanut butter contains approximately 190 calories per 2 tablespoon serving
- A 2 tbsp serving of peanut butter provides 8 grams of protein
- Peanut butter has 16 grams of total fat per 2 tbsp serving
- Saturated fat in peanut butter is about 3 grams per 2 tbsp
- Peanut butter contains 7 grams of carbohydrates per 2 tbsp serving
- Dietary fiber in peanut butter is 2 grams per 2 tbsp
- Peanut butter provides 0.2 mg of vitamin E per serving (14% DV)
- Magnesium content is 50 mg per 2 tbsp (12% DV)
- Peanut butter has 107 mg of potassium per 2 tbsp serving
- Niacin (vitamin B3) in peanut butter is 4.2 mg per serving (26% DV)
- Peanut butter contains 0.17 mg of vitamin B6 per 2 tbsp (10% DV)
- Folate content is 23 mcg per serving (6% DV)
- Peanut butter has 1.8 mg of iron per 100g (10% DV)
- Zinc in peanut butter is 2.1 mg per 100g (19% DV)
- Peanut butter provides 49 mcg of selenium per 100g (89% DV)
- Copper content is 0.4 mg per 2 tbsp (44% DV)
- Peanut butter has 0.3 grams of sugars per 2 tbsp serving
- Sodium in natural peanut butter is 7 mg per 2 tbsp (0% DV)
- Peanut butter is 25% protein by weight
- Monounsaturated fats make up 50% of peanut butter's fat content
- Polyunsaturated fats are 30% of total fats in peanut butter
- Peanut butter has a pH of around 6.2-6.3
- Water content in peanut butter is 1.8 grams per 100g
- Ash content is 2.5 grams per 100g in peanut butter
- Peanut butter contains 588 mg of phosphorus per 100g
- Calcium in peanut butter is 49 mg per 100g (5% DV)
- Vitamin K content is 0.3 mcg per 2 tbsp
- Peanut butter has 0.04 mg of thiamin (B1) per tbsp
- Riboflavin (B2) is 0.1 mg per 2 tbsp (8% DV)
- Pantothenic acid (B5) is 0.7 mg per serving (14% DV)
Nutritional Facts Interpretation
Despite its deceptively indulgent nature, peanut butter is essentially a protein-packed, nutrient-dense brick of plant-based fuel cleverly disguised as a pantry-staple spread.
Production Statistics
- US peanut production reached 5.5 billion pounds in 2022
- Georgia produces 52% of US peanuts
- Average US peanut yield was 4,800 pounds per acre in 2022
- World peanut production was 49.7 million metric tons in 2021/22
- China leads global peanut production with 17 million tons annually
- India produces 9.1 million tons of peanuts yearly
- US peanut acreage harvested was 1.42 million acres in 2022
- Peanuts for butter use 50% of US crop
- Average farm price for peanuts was $0.24 per pound in 2022
- Peanut crushing capacity in US is 2.5 million tons per year
- 4 million tons of peanuts processed for butter globally
- Argentina exports 0.5 million tons of peanuts yearly
- Sudan produces 1.2 million tons of peanuts annually
- Myanmar peanut output is 1.1 million tons per year
- Nigeria's peanut production is 3.3 million tons
- US runner peanuts yield highest at 5,200 lbs/acre
- Virginia peanuts used for butter yield 3,000 lbs/acre
- Spanish peanuts production focused on confectionery, 2.8 million lbs
- Valencia peanuts represent 1% of US production
- Peanut planting season in US starts April-May
- Harvest occurs 120-150 days after planting
- Irrigation covers 20% of US peanut fields
- Peanut vines used as livestock feed post-harvest
- Rotational crop with cotton improves yields by 10%
Production Statistics Interpretation
Georgia is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the American peanut belt, single-handedly churning out over half the nation's 5.5 billion-pound crop, which is then overwhelmingly destined for our collective sandwiches, though it must be said that when it comes to global dominance, even a belt that big has to tip its cap to China's world-leading 17-million-ton annual output.
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