Is Skippy Peanut Butter Vegan?
Peanut butter fanatics looking to embrace a plant-based or full vegan diet need not despair! Everyone’s favorite sandwich spread is (generally) suitable for vegans.
Peanut butter is a popular pantry item for many households, and it is also a high-protein, nutrient-dense meat/dairy alternative for many vegans. There are innumerable peanut butter brands currently on the market, but today we’re looking into whether Skippy’s peanut butter is vegan.
The answer is generally yes. Most Skippy peanut butter types are vegan, with the exception of the ones that contain honey flavour.
However, as with many supposedly vegan items, there are some patchy areas surrounding their production and origin.
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What is Peanut Butter?
Despite the misleading use of the word ‘butter’ in its title, peanut butter contains no dairy products. Peanut butter is pureed peanuts, which usually includes sugar, salt, and a type of vegetable oil.
Skippy Peanut Butter
Well-known company Skippy makes a whole host of peanut butters, and below is a breakdown of which are vegan, and which are not. This article will also cover some of the ingredients in Skippy peanut butter that some vegans may take issue with.
Skippy Peanut Butter Types
- Skippy Single – Yes
- Skippy Creamy – Yes
- Skippy Super Chunk – Yes
- Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy – Yes
- Skippy Reduced Fat Super Chunk – Yes
- Skippy Natural Singles – Yes
- Skippy Natural Creamy – Yes
- Skippy Natural Super Chunk – Yes
- Skippy Natural Super Chunk 1/3 Less Sodium & Sugar – Yes
- Skippy Roasted Honey Nut Creamy – No
- Skippy Natural Honey – No
- Skippy Natural Honey Super Chunk – No
- Skippy Double Peanut Butter PB Bites – No (contains milk products)
- Skippy Pretzel PB Bites – No (contains milk products)
- Skippy Granola PB Bites – No (contains milk products and honey)
- Skippy Graham Cracker PB Bites – No (contains milk products and honey)
Standard Skippy Peanut Butter Ingredients:
- Roasted peanuts
- Sugar
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Honey (in ‘honey’ flavored types)
Honey in Skippy Peanut Butter
Several of Skippy’s peanut butter types include honey as a flavoring. Most vegans avoid honey because it derives from bees, therefore it qualifies as an animal product.
Vegans generally adopt a strong political advocacy against corporations who create/benefit from animal violence, cruelty, or product extraction. Therefore, they will never purchase or consume these foods.
However, there are vegans who are in it for the health reasons rather than the political reasons, and if eating honey does not concern them, they will continue to use it in their diet.
Some argue that the honey production industry isn’t cruel or painful for the bees, therefore they consider it ethically sound to consume it.
Whether or not you choose to eat honey or Skippy Peanut Butter honey products depends entirely on your motivation behind your vegan/plant-based diet.
Skippy Plant-Based Protein
In 2018, Skippy released a plant-based protein product made up of pea protein and peanut butter, Pea protein is a popular plant-based protein substitute, and is currently used in many protein powders, Beyond Meat burgers, and numerous other plant-based products.
Skippy Protein comes in two available options: chunky and creamy. Neither contain honey.
Health Benefits of Peanut Butter
Sugar-free peanut butter is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin E, and healthy, beneficial fats. It is also proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as managing your blood sugar.
It is also okay to incorporate it into a diet where the focus is weight loss. It is safe for sufferers of Type-2 Diabetes to consume too.
Protein
Most peanut butter contains 7.2 grams of protein per tablespoon. Protein is vital for a healthy, balanced diet, as it helps repair and rebuild cells. It is also important for growth in children, teens, and pregnant women. Protein keeps our muscles strong and functioning.
Magnesium
Peanut butter also contains 57 ml of magnesium – an important vitamin for bone health, immunity, and brain function. It also fights against inflammation and regulates our nervous system and supports hundreds of chemical reactions in our bodies.
Phosphorus
A generic serving of peanut butter contains 107 mg of Phosphorus, which aids in bone maintenance, the production of red blood cells, and overall energy levels.
Zinc
A generic serving of peanut butter provides 0.85 mg of Zinc, which is necessary for the immune system, muscle restoration, cell growth and development, and DNA formation.
Niacin
A serving of peanut butter contains 4.21 mg of Niacin, which helps with digestion and nerve function, as well as provides energy.
Vitamin B6
You will find 0.17 mg of vitamin B6, which plays a vital role in heart health, energy levels, and immunity.
Word of Warning:
It is worth mentioning that it is important not to overdo it with peanut butter. While it contains many vital nutrients, some brands are also high in fat and sodium.
Even healthy fats should be consumed only in moderation to prevent weight gain or cardiac strain. It is also wise to purchase/make peanut butter with no added sugar if it’s something you like to include in your diet on a daily basis.
Other Benefits of Peanut Butter
Weight Loss
A study conducted in 2018 concluded that regular intake of nuts/nut butter can aid in maintaining a healthy weight, and can even assist in weight loss, as well as decreasing the risk of obesity. This study stated that those (particularly women) who consumed nuts on a regular basis maintained a healthy, consistent weight in comparison to those who did not.
Promotes Good Heart Health
Three of the nutrients in nut butter (Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Niacin) all contribute a well-functioning heart, and can also help people with Diabetes maintain a healthy weight. It is advisable to stick to sugar-free nut butters and be mindful of how much sodium is going into your system, which can be counterproductive to maintaining good heart health.
Bodybuilding
Peanut butter is a fan-fave among many body-builders. One of the reasons is because it is a good source of protein, which helps with building muscles and helping them repair themselves after a body-building session. Protein is also crucial for maintaining energy and general wellness.
Managing Blood Sugar/Diabetes
No-added-sugar nut butters are a good way of maintaining protein and vitamin intake without adding unnecessary sugar to the bloodstream, which is crucial for people suffering from Type-2 Diabetes. Keeping Magnesium levels topped up is also essential to sufferers and is wise for those looking to avoid developing Prediabetes or Type-2.
Reduces the Risk of Breast Disease
BBD (Benign Breast Disease) can be avoided by women who eat healthy nut butters from a young age. Although BDD isn’t potentially fatal in itself, it is known to increase the risk of breast cancer. This was the results of a study conducted in 2013 by the Breast Cancer Treatment Research & Treatment Journal.
Peanut Butter’s Nutritional Info
- Calories – 188
- Protein – 7.02 g
- Saturated fats – 3.05 g
- Monounsaturated fats – 6.63 g
- Polyunsaturated fats – 3.63 g
- Carbohydrates – 7.67 g
- Fiber – 1.80 g
- Sugars – 2.08 g
- Calcium – 17 mg
- Iron – 0.69 mg
- Magnesium – 57 mg
- Phosphorus – 107 mg
- Potassium – 189 mg
- Sodium – 152 mg
- Zinc – 0.85 mg
- Niacin – 4.21 mg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.18 mg
- Vitamin E – 1.90 mg
Who is Skippy?
Skippy is an American brand of peanut butter products. The company dates back to 1932 and was named after the popular comic strip of the same name.
Sales of the products are in the United States and China only, with its headquarters being in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their products are gluten-free and Kosher (with the exception of Skippy PB Bites.)
Skippy Ingredients Some Vegans Take Issue With
Sugar
Refined cane sugar is a controversial subject within the vegan community owing to how it is processed, which involves undergoing a filtration system where bone char (ground animal bones) is used to remove impurities from the sugar and give it its sharp white colour. While the end product itself contains no animal compounds from this process, it is still considered unethical and unfavorable among many in the vegan community.
Palm Oil
Like so many products, Skippy uses the ingredient palm oil, which it uses to enhance the smoothness in some of its ‘smooth’ types of peanut butter. Many vegans abstain from any product that contains palm oil due to its hugely unsustainable harvesting, which contributes to mass deforestation by way of fire.
Other Controversies
Skippy’s parent company is Hormel Foods, which has been listed as one of the most notorious companies for partaking in animal exploitation within its pork factories (Hormel also owns a spam company.)
The Bottom Line of Skippy Peanut Butter
Naturally, due to food packing regulations, all companies are expected by law to truthfully disclose all ingredients on their packaging, so it is fairly easy to navigate whether a food contains animal products or not.
For full ethical peanut butter consumption it is wise to do research into the above matters to see whether the product is fully ethically produced. Alternatively, making your own peanut butter is an option if you wish to be certain of its sustainability.
Homemade Peanut Butter Recipe
Homemade peanut butter is wonderfully cost-effective and easy to make. A typical method and recipe are as follows:
Ingredients:
- 400g blanched peanuts
- 2 teaspoons of sea salt flakes (optional)
- 2-3 teaspoons of peanut oil (optional)
- Maple syrup to taste (optional)
How to Make:
- Heat your oven to 200 C / 180 C fan / gas 6 (depending on your oven type). Empty the peanuts onto a large baking tray and roast for ten minutes, stirring/sifting occasionally to ensure they don’t burn at the edges. When golden brown, remove from the oven and leave to cool.
- Once completely cooled, pour the nuts into your food processor, and add the salt. Thoroughly blitz for 4-5 mins, until what’s left is a smooth nut butter, if you want to loosen the consistency, add your oil and blend again.
- Store your nut butter in a well-sanitized, air-tight container, such as a glass jar or Tupperware container.
How to Enjoy Peanut Butter
Known as one of the most versatile foods out there, peanut can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways including:
- On toast
- In smoothies/smoothie bowls/shakes
- One rice crackers
- With apple slices
- In sandwiches (with jelly is a particular all-American fan favorite!)
- In oatmeal
- In cookies
- In cakes
- As energy or protein balls
- Breakfast bars
- Brownies
- In cheesecakes
- In puddings and pavlovas
- On pancakes
- In Crepes
- Waffles!
- Banana splits
- Acai bowls
- Banana bread
- Peanut butter & banana popsicles
- Granola
- Homemade peanut butter cups
- Muffins
- Ice cream
- Soups
- And much more!
Conclusion
Peanut butter is the gift that keeps on giving for vegans and carnies alike, and can be enjoyed in a multitude of ways for those on a vegan/plant-based diet.
Skippy’s Peanut Butter is generally suitable for vegans (minus the honey-flavored ones), however, those on a vegan diet/lifestyle may wish to reconsider Skippy owing to its use of cane sugar and palm oil, as well as its financial relationship with Hormel Foods.
Veganism can be tricky to navigate, but a way to simplify which products you choose to consume and which you don’t is to evaluate your motives behind choosing a plant-based or vegan diet.
Those in it for health purposes needn’t worry about issues such as cane sugar processing or palm oil harvesting, but those concerned with the ethical and sustainability aspect, may wish to avoid this brand, and find an alternative.
To be sure your store-bought peanut butter is vegan, look for the certified ‘Vegan’ logo. Alternatively, dust off your food processor and impress everyone by making your own, tailored perfectly to your own preferences!
Naturally, peanut butter is not suitable for those with a nut allergy.
