Peanut butter consists of ground peanuts or, sometimes, a mixture of peanuts, salt, sugar, and oil. This fan-favorite (and often vegan) spread makes a great sandwich and is often used in desserts and condiment recipes. Alas, things can get sticky when you come across jars of peanut butter with non-vegan ingredients blended in.

Here, we dive into the world of peanut butter and share why most are vegan, which products aren't vegan, and our expert shopping tips.

Invented in the United States by Dr. John Harvey Kellog in 1895, peanut butter contains peanuts and sometimes salt, sugar, and oil—all of which are plant-based ingredients. The peanuts are shelled, dry roasted, cooled, blanched, and ground into a paste until the desired consistency is reached. Chunky and smooth kinds of peanut butter are ground to varying degrees.

Hydrogenated vegetable oil found in the most common peanut butter brands, like Jif and Skippy, stabilizes the nut butter by preventing peanuts' natural oils from sitting at the top of the jar. The oil you see in natural peanut butters—where the only ingredients are peanut butter and salt—comes from the peanuts themselves and is not added vegetable oil.

While most peanut butter is safe for vegans, there are still a few considerations. First, non-vegan peanut butters might use honey as a sweetening agent, which is not vegan. Likewise, less common specialty spreads may include non-vegan chocolate swirled in a peanut butter jar—a delightful dessert, but not for plant-based eaters.

There is also the mystery of sugar's vegan status. The refining process of certain sugars might involve the use of a bone char filtration system to remove impurities. Check with your favorite peanut butter brands to see what their sugar processing involves, or choose nut butter without sugar.

Palm oil is a popular addition to certain foods due to its long shelf life. However, its production is a major cause of deforestation and habitat loss, impacting a range of wildlife species. Some small peanut butter producers that include palm oil in their products work closely with organizations like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which sets certain standards for sustainable palm oil production.

We're giving you the vegan go-ahead on the following jars of peanut butter. Above and beyond their vegan status, these brands incorporate high-quality ingredients and production methods.

From peanut butter chocolate creations to jars that include the use of bone char, some familiar grocery-store items are off-limits because they include animal-based components.

Yes, Jif Natural Peanut Butter is vegan. Its ingredients include peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt, and molasses.

Absolutely! Peanuts are plant-based. Check the label of peanuts you buy in stores to ensure they are not processed with non-vegan ingredients, like honey.

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