Of course, we know the basics of following a vegan diet – absolutely no animal products. This means no meat, no fish, no dairy products, and no eggs. But there are products that may catch you out, like honey or peanut butter.
Peanut butter is a wildly popular condiment and ingredient which is favoured for the rich taste it offers to a wide range of dishes, a delectably creamy texture, and a surprisingly impressive nutrient profile.
Peanut butter is a highly versatile spread that works well in a range of recipes. From sweet treats like cookies and smoothies to savoury dips like satay, you may be wondering if a vegan can incorporate one of the world’s favourite things into their diet; and with so many brands on the market today, all offering different styles, you may be unsure which brands, if any, are vegan.
In order to help you get to the bottom of this dilemma, this article will discuss and investigate whether all commercially available peanut butter is vegan. So, is all peanut butter vegan?
Most peanut butter is, indeed, vegan
In fact, most types of peanut butter in your local supermarket will be made from a few simple ingredients – roasted peanuts, oils, and salt. Some brands may decide to include other additives and ingredients in order to enhance the flavour or preserve the product for longer, and this can include molasses, sugar, or agave syrup – all of which are luckily vegan.
This does indeed mean that many types of peanut butter that you see are free of animal products and can still be included as part of your vegan diet. Some brands of peanut butter that are vegan friendly include:
- Meridian
- Whole Earth
- Sun-Pat
- Pip & Nut
- Manilife
Please be aware that this is not an exhaustive list of all the brands of vegan peanut butter available in your local supermarket – many own brands and other brands not listed here are indeed vegan, just make sure to check the label!
Some types of peanut butter are not vegan
Although a majority of peanut butter brands are vegan, some may actually include animal products for a range of reasons. One of the most common animal product additives is honey – which is typically excluded from vegan diets as it is produced by bees and, therefore, considered an animal product.
Although less common, some kinds of peanut butter also have omega-3 fatty acid supplements, which are sourced from fish like anchovies or sardines. Furthermore, other brands use cane sugar in the product itself. Although sugar is vegan, cane sugar is sometimes filtered and bleached with bone char; rendering it non-vegan.
Unfortunately, some brands of peanut butter may have completely vegan ingredients but are prepared in facilities that also process non-vegan products; increasing the risk of cross-contamination. Although some vegans don’t mind consuming products that may contain trace amounts of animal products, due to cross-contamination, many do choose to exclude these items from their diet.
Is all peanut butter vegan? How you can know for definite
The easiest and fastest way to determine whether or not your favourite brand of peanut butter is vegan friendly is to check the ingredient list. Non-vegan peanut butter brands will include things like honey, fish oil, and even gelatine – all of which you should steer clear from if you’re following a vegan diet.
Some products may also be labelled as certified vegan, which ensures they do not contain any animal products and have not been tested on animals, but also shows that they do not contain products that are filtered and bleached with bone char.
Although some products may be labelled as vegan, they may be processed in facilities that also process animal products. In these instances, in order to qualify for vegan certification, these brands are required to verify that any shared machinery is thoroughly cleaned in order to prevent cross-contamination.
If you aren’t sure whether a product is definitively vegan or not, another way to check is to get in touch with the company or manufacturer to directly address your concerns.
FAQs
Most types of peanut butter are considered vegan and made using ingredients like peanuts, oil, and salt.
Is it's peanut butter vegan? ›
These include roasted peanuts (of course), as well as oil, sugar, and salt. Occasionally, some products may contain honey or omega-3 sourced from fish, so it's worth checking the label before you buy. But for the most part, peanut butter is vegan.
Why is peanut butter not vegan? ›
There are instances where peanut butter might not be vegan, especially in the US. This might be the result of honey, which is sometimes added for sweetness, and milk powder, which can be added in different flavored peanut butters. Meanwhile, some varieties may include added fats such as butter or other non-vegan oils.
What's surprisingly not vegan? ›
Beer and Wine
Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.
Is Skippy peanut butter not vegan? ›
Unlike some peanut butters that are made in facilities that process animal products and/or contain animal byproducts, Skippy® peanut butter is classified as 100% vegan. Skippy® peanut butter products are widely available at retailers across the United States.
Is Jif peanut butter considered vegan? ›
Jif Natural Peanut Butter is widely considered vegan because it contains only peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt, and molasses. Note, though, that sugar is often made with bone char, an animal ingredient, and that palm oil production drives deforestation, which deters many environmental vegans.
Is Smucker's peanut butter vegan? ›
Smucker's® Marshmallow Artificially Flavored Spoonable Topping does not contain any ingredients derived from animal products. Is Smucker's® peanut butter vegan? Smucker's® Natural Peanut Butter does not contain any ingredients derived from animal products.
Why can't vegans eat peanuts? ›
Peanuts certainly qualify to be part of vegan and vegetarian diets. They provide important healthy nutrients and are loaded with plant based protein. As with any vegetarian diet , reading labels before purchasing is always advised.
Why are nuts not vegan? ›
Nuts. Nuts are a nutritious food that many vegans eat. However, some varieties, such as Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts, contain gelatin. Gelatin is a protein that comes from collagen, a material that makes up bone, cartilage, and skin.
Why aren't bananas vegan? ›
According to Science Daily, the pesticide Chitosan, which fights bacteria and prevents bananas from over-ripening, is made from shrimp and crab shells. So although, like figs, the banana itself is still a fruit, the compound used to extend its life is made from animal matter.
While avoiding all animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs, vegans often supplement their meals with plenty of fresh plant varieties. But there's one pesky fruit, the fig, that doesn't exactly fit into the "vegan-friendly" category.
Is Skippy peanut butter owned by China? ›
Skippy is an American brand of peanut butter manufactured in the United States and China. First sold in 1932, Skippy is currently manufactured by Hormel Foods, which bought the brand from Unilever in 2013.
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.
Is Peter Pan peanut butter vegan? ›
Is Peter Pan Peanut Butter Vegan? Peter Pan products are not vegan but they are vegetarian.
Are reeses vegan? ›
Because they're covered in milk chocolate, the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are not vegan. However, a new dairy-free, oat-based version of the recipe, called Reese's Plant Based, was released in 2023 (more on that below!).
Is Peter Pan peanut butter plant-based? ›
Peter Pan products are not vegan but they are vegetarian.
Are uncrustables vegan? ›
No, Uncrustables products are not vegan. Our PB&J-style sandwiches may contain milk. Are Uncrustables® products organic? No, Uncrustables products are not classified as organic.
Are peanut M&M's vegan? ›
Unfortunately upon further inspection, no m&m's are vegan. Not even some of the flavoured ones like peanut m&m or the crispy m&m. While the obvious reason might be the inclusion of dairy products in the milk chocolate with the main ingredient being milk products - skim milk, there are other reasons.
