Healthy fats
Peanut butter
The ingredient list is the whole decision here: peanuts and salt, or peanuts alone. Anything with hydrogenated oil or added sugar is a different product wearing the same label.
Organic upgrade priority
Residue data does not apply
- →Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to this food in the same way.
Key numbers
- Nutrient density
- 78/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $4.29
- per 16 oz jar · organic +47%
- Servings a week
- 3.5
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
What to look at instead
Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to peanut butter the way it does to fresh produce. These are the measures that actually decide the purchase.
- Ingredient list to look for
- Peanuts, salt
- Two items, or one
- Added sugar — conventional brands
- 2–4 g per serving
- Cost per 10 g protein
- $0.38
- Aflatoxin
- Regulated
- FDA limits aflatoxin in peanut products; commercial brands blend and test lots
Nutrition
Per 2 tbsp (32 g).
190
calories
8 g
protein
2.6 g
fiber
140 mg
sodium
- Protein 8 g
- Niacin 25% DV
- Vitamin E 19% DV
Buying and storing
- ◆Natural peanut butter separates because there is no palm oil holding it together. Store the jar upside down and the one stir at the start is all it takes.
- ◆Powdered peanut butter cuts the calories by about 75% but removes the fat that made it satiating in the first place.
Common questions
›Is peanut butter a healthy choice?
The ingredient list is the whole decision here: peanuts and salt, or peanuts alone. Anything with hydrogenated oil or added sugar is a different product wearing the same label. A 2 tbsp (32 g) serving provides 190 calories, 8 g protein, and 2.6 g fiber, scoring 78/100 on nutrient density.
›Does peanut butter need to be organic?
Pesticide residue monitoring does not apply to peanut butter the way it does to fresh produce, so this site does not assign an organic upgrade priority. The label buys you a defined set of production standards rather than a measurable change in residue evidence.
›What can I buy instead of peanut butter?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Almonds, Walnuts cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.
Related foods
Walnuts
$10.99 / 16 oz bag · organic $14.49
Nutrition 87/100 · 4.3 g protein · 1.9 g fiber
Not applicableAlmonds
$8.99 / 16 oz bag · organic $12.49
Nutrition 85/100 · 6 g protein · 3.5 g fiber
Not applicableChia seeds
$6.99 / 12 oz bag · organic $8.99
Nutrition 90/100 · 4.7 g protein · 9.8 g fiber
Not applicableExtra virgin olive oil
$12.99 / 25 oz bottle · organic $16.99
Nutrition 86/100 · 0 g protein · 0 g fiber
Not applicable