Canadian pharmacist Marcellus Gilmore Edson obtained the first patent for "peanut paste" in 1884, and by the end of the 19th century, peanut butter had become a high-protein food enjoyed by wealthy people, served exclusively at high-end health care spas. But over the following decades, it evolved into a staple of the American diet, enjoyed by people of all social classes. Today, to be marketed as "peanut butter," the mixture must contain a minimum of 90 percent peanuts, and contain no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives -- whether the product is labeled as smooth or chunky, natural or regular. Otherwise, it must be sold as "peanut spread" or "peanut blend."
More peanut butter, please:
- To stabilize peanut butter and eliminate separation, manufacturers may add a small amount of hydrogenated oil. Some commercial brands also add small amounts of sugar or salt.
- In the United States, about 700 million pounds (318 million kilograms) of peanut butter are consumed every year. More than half of the peanuts grown in America are eaten in the form of peanut butter.
- The use of peanuts dates back to the Aztec and Inca civilizations. Peanut paste may have originally been used by the Aztecs as a toothache remedy.