A two-tablespoon serving of Better’n Peanut Butter has just 100 calories and 2 grams of fat, but there are also 6 grams of sugar and 2 grams of added sugar. Although grounded peanuts are the first ingredient, the next two ingredients are brown rice syrup and tapioca syrup, which are added sugars. You’ll also find vegetable glycerin, titanium dioxide, and soy lecithin in this ultra-processed version of peanut butter.
Jif’s reduced-fat peanut butter spread might save you a little bit of fat, but the second ingredient is corn syrup solids. This sandwich spread also has hydrogenated vegetable oil, magnesium oxide, ferric orthophosphate, and pyridoxine hydrochloride.
You’d probably do a little better with PBfit peanut butter spread, even though it isn’t low in fat. You still have 3 grams of sugar and 2 grams of added sugar from coconut palm. However, this spread has five total ingredients that you can pronounce, even though you might not find pea protein in your pantry.
Rather than choose these ultra-processed foods, you might be better off reaching for an all-natural peanut butter like Smucker’s, which has two ingredients–peanuts and salt. If you’re looking to reduce your saturated fat, try these peanut butter alternatives.