Peanut butter
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THEN WHO WAS PHONE?
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/123.208.62.194|123.208.62.194]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Fountainviewkid|Fountainviewkid]]. ([[WP:TW|TW]])
[[Image:PeanutButter.jpg|thumb|230px|right|Peanut butter in a jar.]]
'''Peanut butter''' (also known as '''peanut paste''') is a food paste made primarily from ground roasted [[peanut]]s, with or without added oil. It is popular primarily in [[Canada]], the [[United States]], [[South America]], [[Mexico]], [[Central America]],<ref name = "FF" /> [[Australia]], the [[United Kingdom]],<ref name = "FF" /> [[South Africa]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[New Zealand]], [[The Bahamas]], [[North Africa]], [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]],<ref name = "FF" /> [[the Philippines]]<ref>{{cite web|url = http://ats-sea.agr.gc.ca/asean/e3399.htm|title = A Spread of the Peanut Butter Industry|author = Ronald Mark G. Omaña|publisher = Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada|accessdate = 2007-10-04}}</ref> and [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name = "FF" /> It is also manufactured in some [[emerging markets]].
Similar peanut pastes are popular in various cultures. In [[South Indian]] cooking, additional chillies are used to make a spicy variant of peanut paste. In gourmet peanut butter, chocolate is added. In [[Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh, India]] cooking, peanut paste has been quite popular for centuries where peanuts are ground along with other ingredients.
Various [[nut butter]]s are also made from other nuts.
==History==
Peanut butter was invented in 1890 by Dr. [[John Kellogg]] as a protein source for patients lacking the ability to chew.<ref name = "About.com>{{cite web|url=http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/pbutterhistory.htm|title = Peanut Butter History|author = Peggy Trowbridge Filippone|publisher = About.com}}</ref>
The first patent for peanut butter was submitted in 1895 by the Kellogg brothers who were using it as a vegetarian source of protein for patients at their [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]]. The Kellogg brothers discarded the production of peanut butter in favor of cereals, and Joseph Lambert, one of their former employees, took up the baton. In 1896 he started selling the machines to grind peanuts and three years later his wife published the first nut cookbook.
A popular misconception is that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. He did, however, disseminate over 300 uses for peanuts.
==Modern peanut butter production==
[[Image:Peanut butter.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A jar of commercial peanut butter]]
About half of shelled U.S. peanut production was used to make peanut butter [[as of 2001]].<ref>{{cite book | author = A. Douglas King, Jr. | coauthors = Thomas Jones | chapter = Nut Meats | title = Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods | editor = Frances P. Downes; Keith Itō | publisher = American Public Health Association | year = 2001 | id = ISBN 087553175X | pages = p. 561}}</ref> The United States is the world's largest peanut butter supplier and consumer.<ref name = "FF">{{cite web|url = http://www.peanutbutter.com/funfacts.asp|title = Skippy - Fun Facts|publisher = Skippy}}</ref> Along with [[Argentina]] and [[China]], it is one of the world's three largest exporters of peanuts. Peanuts grown in other countries are usually harvested for [[peanut oil]] (a type of [[cooking oil]]) and for animal jerkey.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.peanutsusa.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.page&pid=66|title = Myths, Facts and FAQs|publisher = American Peanut Council}}</ref> The economic impact of peanut butter production is also significant in [[Subsaharan Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.africare.org/news/news_release/peanutbutter.html|title = The Power of Peanut Butter|publisher = Africare|date = [[October 7]], [[2004]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=717|title = Buttering Up - Zimbabwe|date = February 2001|author = Mike Gezana|publisher = United Nations Development Project: Equator Initiative}}</ref>
There are many types of peanuts. Small-seed peanuts are rich in oil and usually grown for peanut butter and oil. In the U.S., [[peanut#Runner group|Runner Types]] and [[peanut#Spanish group|Spanish Types]] are two families of peanuts grown in [[Southern United States|southern states]] including [[Alabama]], [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Oklahoma]], [[South Carolina]] and [[Texas]]. The first three states produce 60% of the peanuts that are used in peanut butter.
Harvested peanuts are sent to factories for inspection, [[roasting|roasted]] in [[oven]]s<ref name = "9P">{{cite web|url = http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch09/final/c9s10-2b.pdf|title = 9.10.2.2 Peanut Processing|publisher = U.S. Environmental Protection Agency}}</ref>, and rapidly air-cooled to stop cooking, which helps to retain their color and oil constituents.
The cooked peanuts are then rubbed between [[rubber]] belts or brushes to remove the outer skin. The [[seed|kernel]]s are split with the hearts removed and then cleaned and sorted.<ref name = "9P" /> Next, the peanuts are sent to the grinder.
The peanuts are ground twice. First they are ground into small pieces. A second grinding stage, which may combine the peanut butter with salt, sweetener, and often a [[stabilizer (chemistry)|stabilizer]] to keep the oil from separating, grinds them finely. The oils will separate after a time; unstabilized varieties in particular are best refrigerated to prevent the oil from separating out, but which makes the butter harder to spread. "Natural" peanut butters have been introduced which use [[palm oil]] as a stabilizer so as not to require stirring. ''Crunchy'' peanut butter has small pieces of unground peanuts mixed in.
In the United States, a product described as peanut butter must contain a minimum of 90% peanuts.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/aprqtr/21cfr164.150.htm|title = 21 C.F.R. 164.150|publisher = U.S. Government Printing Office}}</ref> [[Artificial sweetener]]s, [[food coloring|artificial colors]] and [[preservative]]s are not allowed (this is why some peanut butter manufacturers sell ''peanut [[spread (food)|spread]]'', sometimes called low-calorie or low-fat, with additives or lower peanut content). Some brands add [[salt]] or [[sugar]]s including [[dextrose]], [[sucrose]], [[fructose]], or [[molasses]] to suit the taste of the average consumer; others have no additives.
==Health==
===Health benefits===
Peanut butter provides protection against cardiovascular disease due to high levels of [[monounsaturated fats]] and [[Resveratrol]]; butter prepared with the skin of the peanuts has a greater level of [[resveratrol]] and other health-aiding agents.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/seta/2006/12/14/stories/2006121400171500.htm Sci Tech] [[The Hindu]], [[December 14]], [[2006]]</ref> Peanut butter (and peanuts) provide [[protein]], vitamins [[niacin|B3]] and [[Vitamin E|E]], [[Magnesium#food sources|magnesium]], [[folate]], [[dietary fibre]], [[arginine]]<ref>[http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=101 WH Foods]</ref>, and high levels of the [[antioxidant]] [[polyphenol antioxidant|p-coumaric acid]].
[[Plumpy'nut]] is a peanut butter-based food used to fight malnutrition in famine-stricken countries. A single pack contains 500 calories, can be stored unrefrigerated for 2 years, and requires no cooking or preparation.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/08/international/africa/08niger.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1123560000&en=a110a1fd93832714&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin|title = Hope for Hungry Children, Arriving in a Foil Packet|author = Michael Wines|publisher = The New York Times|date = August 8, 2005}}</ref>
In the novel ''[[Make Room! Make Room!]]'' by [[Harry Harrison]], and the film [[Soylent Green]] made from it, an impoverished and malnourished world is portrayed; the government supplies a peanut butter ration to prevent "the kwash" ([[kwashiorkor]], associated with protein deficiency) in children.
===Health concerns===
For people with a [[peanut allergy]], peanut butter can cause reactions including [[anaphylaxis|anaphylactic shock]] which has led to its banning in some schools.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9D0CEEDB1539F934A1575AC0A96E958260|title = Dear Mr. Carver. This Is a Cease and Desist Order.|author = James Barron|date = [[September 27]], [[1998]]|publisher = New York Times}}</ref>
The peanut plant is susceptible to the [[mold]] ''[[Aspergillus flavus]]'' which produces a [[carcinogenic]] substance called [[Aflatoxin#Pathology|aflatoxin]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/aflatoxin.php|title = Aflatoxins in Your Food -
and their Effect on Your Health|publisher = Environment, Health and Safety Online}}</ref> Since it is impossible to completely remove every instance of aflatoxins, contamination of peanuts and peanut butter is monitored in many countries to ensure safe levels of this [[carcinogen]]. Average American peanut butter contains about 13 parts per billion of aflatoxins, a thousand times below the maximum recommended level.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
Some brands of peanut butter may contain a fraction of a percent of added [[hydrogenation|hydrogenated]] [[vegetable oil]]s, which are high in [[trans fat|trans fatty acids]], thought to be a cause of [[atherosclerosis]], [[coronary heart disease]], and [[stroke]]; these oils are added to make the butter easier to spread. Natural peanut butter, and peanuts, do not contain partially hydrogenated oils. A USDA survey of commercial peanut butters in the US did not show the presence of trans fat.<ref>[http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=40845-peanut-butter-is Peanut butter is trans fat free.]</ref> Peanut butter is high in total fat and calorie levels.
==Other uses==
A common, simple outdoor [[bird feeder]] can be made by coating a [[pine cone]] once with peanut butter, then again with birdseed.
Peanut butter is an effective bait for mouse traps.
[[Disinfectant]] for certain kinds of insect bites{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
Can also help take [[gum]] out of hair, carpet, upholstery, etc.
When taken in excess it is known to have laxative qualities.
==Reference peanut butters==
[[2008|As of February 2008]], the most expensive peanut butter on the market is a $603 limited item which can be [[mail-order]]ed from the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] of the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://srmors.nist.gov/view_detail.cfm?srm=2387 |title=Standard Reference Materials: SRM 2387 - Peanut Butter|publisher=[[National Institute of Standards and Technology|NIST]]|date=[[2007-01-12]]|accessdate=2007-08-16}}</ref> This peanut butter (SRM 2387) is a set of three 170 g (6 oz.) jars which will expire on [[December 31]], [[2009]].
This piece of reference material has been analyzed with state-of-the-art measurement methods to provide values for the amount of [[fatty acid]]s, 18 individual [[amino acid]]s ([[protein]]), [[vitamin]]s, [[mineral]]s, [[dietary fiber]], other [[nutrient]]s and [[mold]]-produced [[carcinogen]]ic [[aflatoxin]]s. Food manufacturers can use it to validate production and [[quality control]] procedures as well as ensure accurate labeling of product content. It can also be used to evaluate [[allergen]] test kits.
==See also==
*[[Peanut sauce]]
*[[Peanut allergy]]
*[[Jif_(peanut_butter)]] - a major brand of peanut butter in the United States
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org The National Peanut Board]
* [http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/aprqtr/21cfr164.150.htm The federal "Peanut Butter Law" in the U.S.]
* [http://www.ams.usda.gov/fqa/aa20328.htm The USDA's Commercial Item Description for peanut butter and peanut spread]
[[Category:American cuisine]]
[[Category:Peanuts]]
[[Category:Spreads]]
[[Category:Food ingredients]]
[[Category:Low-carb packaged foods]]
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