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it is funny to me that peanut butter was singled out as some kind of processed evil food as it is usually sold in stores. works out well for the peanut butter companies though, they get to add natural versions to their line and overcharge people who fall for the fearmongering.
What Captain calls fear mongering, I would call educational.
The following is from 2009, but you gain an understanding of the "processing" involved. They add all this crap, so people can shave off 10 calories!
Quote:
Skippy, a brand owned by European food giant Unilever, has issued a recall of its "reduced fat" peanut butter products. Evidently, they have become tainted with salmonella -- an unhappy echo of the widespread 2009 salmonella outbreak from salmonella-tainted "peanut paste."
But the real scandal with Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread isn't that some unwanted pathogen somehow found its way into the finished product. The problem is the stuff that Unilever quite intentionally injects into its "peanut butter spreads" -- and takes out.
What do I mean? Let's look at the ingredients list (which is the same for both the "creamy" and "super chunk" varieties):
The products deliver 180 calories per two-tablespoon serving, and 12 grams of fat.
Let's compare that to another widely available commercial product: Woodstock Organic Peanut Butter. According to its ingredients list, it contains just "Organic dry roasted unblanched peanuts and salt," with 190 calories per two-tablespoon serving and 15 grams of fat.
In other words, it's quite possible to mass-produce peanut butter without weighing it down with all manner of additives.
So what is Skippy doing here? Essentially, it's stripping out a quarter of the fat naturally found in peanut butter and replacing it with sweeteners, thickeners, and partially hydrogenated oil. In total calorie terms, the added sweeteners nearly offset the subtracted fat: the Skippy products have just 10 fewer calories per serving than does Woodstock's just-peanuts version.
the following is the nutritional facts and ingredients of your nice and cheap and delicious skippy peanut butter found in costco (not the natural version). its basically nuts, salt, sugar and some oils to prevent separation. there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. now you are talking about the reduced fat version, well i guess people have to figure out their priorities as far as nutrient breakdown and decide if its worth it. but ultimately, im sure the addition of those other ingrededients arent going to harm you.
You do realize that all peanut butter is not "Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread", don't you?
Of course. I am simply saying the less processing, and the fewer ingredients, the better. The term "natural" is quite misleading, it's on everything these days. Some folks are discriminatory in their purchases, some aren't. It's all about choice. I will pay more, for a cleaner version of the same product.
In particular, I try to avoid GMO ingredients, as much as possible. (corn, soy, canola etc,).
Why would people get angry, sarcastic, or defensive about a discussion of peanut butter? This is very strange.
Of course. I am simply saying the less processing, and the fewer ingredients, the better.
but thats not really true. even still, i think peanut butter has been targeted wrongly in the world of people who attack the evil processing of foods as not much is really being done with it.
but thats not really true. even still, i think peanut butter has been targeted wrongly in the world of people who attack the evil processing of foods as not much is really being done with it.
I think this is a ridiculous argument. You are entitled to your opinion, as am I.
I think this is a ridiculous argument. You are entitled to your opinion, as am I.
and i think its ridiculous for people to pay triple the price for organic peanut butter than regular skippy but people are entitled to waste their money and convince themselves they are eating healthier when they arent.
and i think its ridiculous for people to pay triple the price for organic peanut butter than regular skippy but people are entitled to waste their money and convince themselves they are eating healthier when they arent.
I don't want to pay for the chemicals or additives, I just want the unadulterated product. Therefore, my money is better spent than yours. If I get a reaction to something, I can nail down what caused it. In your case, with all the processed foods, there is a gazillion ingredients that could have had an adverse effect. Artifical vs real food, that is what you are essentially arguing about.
Just read the labels, if your okay with the ingredients, and know what they are..........go for it. But don't tell others how to shop.
I don't want to pay for the chemicals or additives, I just want the unadulterated product. Therefore, my money is better spent than yours. If I get a reaction to something, I can nail down what caused it. In your case, with all the processed foods, there is a gazillion ingredients that could have had an adverse effect. Artifical vs real food, that is what you are essentially arguing about.
Just read the labels, if your okay with the ingredients, and know what they are..........go for it. But don't tell others how to shop.
I'd have to disagree with that. Anything grown underground, according to Consumer Reports, is a waste of money to buy in the "organic" form. Myself, I prefer to have preservatives and such in my foods - they extend the shelf life greatly. I'm not gonna die from buying/eating peanut butter. LOL....my uncle used to buy eggs for over $6 a dozen.... People are so paranoid about eating perfectly good foods. I think I'll go buy a pound of bacon tomorrow....and I don't care what the heck the pig was fed! I do understand your motivation....but not everyone shares your beliefs.....nor do they mine! Eat and be happy. I'll just get more in my belly than others.
Edit: You are much more likely to encounter mold in your peanut butter if you buy it with no preservatives in it.
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I'd have to disagree with that. Anything grown underground, according to Consumer Reports, is a waste of money to buy in the "organic" form.
