Peanut Butter: A History by pblovers April 19, 2011 Journey back in time and discover the history of Peanut Butter!1890 A St. Louis physician developed the idea of packaging peanut paste for people with bad teeth. Peanut paste was sold for six cents per pound. 1895 The Kellogg brothers patented the process of preparing peanut butter with steamed nuts. Today the nuts are roasted, and the peanut butter is much tastier. 1903 Dr. George Washington Carver developed more than 300 other uses for peanuts. Carver is considered by many to be the father of the peanut industry. 1904 C.H. Sumner introduced peanut butter to the world at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. He sold $705.11 of the treat at his concession stand! 1908 Krema Products Company, in Columbus, Ohio, began selling peanut butter. They are the oldest peanut butter company still in operation today. 1922 Joseph L. Rosefield sold peanut butter in California, churning it to make it smoother. He received the first patent for peanut butter that could stay fresh up to a year 1928 One of the first companies to adopt Rosefield’s process was Swift & Company. The company was later renamed Peter Pan. 1932 Rosefield began producing peanut butter under the Skippy label. Skippy created the first crunchy-style peanut butter two years later. 1955 Procter & Gamble entered the peanut butter business and introduced Jif in 1958. Now owned by the J.M. Smucker Company, Jif operates the world’s largest peanut butter plant, producing 250,000 jars every day! PB Today Peanut butter today is remarkably similar to that produced more than a century ago. To legally label the spread as peanut butter, it must contain a minimum of 90% peanuts with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives. Note: Some brands add natural sweeteners and salt, plus stabilizers for freshness. Natural peanut butter has no stabilizer but may contain natural sweeteners and salt. 1890 A St. Louis physician developed the idea of packaging peanut paste for people with bad teeth. Peanut paste was sold for six cents per pound. 1895 The Kellogg brothers patented the process of preparing peanut butter with steamed nuts. Today the nuts are roasted, and the peanut butter is much tastier. 1903 Dr. George Washington Carver developed more than 300 other uses for peanuts. Carver is considered by many to be the father of the peanut industry. 1904 C.H. Sumner introduced peanut butter to the world at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. He sold $705.11 of the treat at his concession stand! 1908 Krema Products Company, in Columbus, Ohio, began selling peanut butter. They are the oldest peanut butter company still in operation today. 1922 Joseph L. Rosefield sold peanut butter in California, churning it to make it smoother. He received the first patent for peanut butter that could stay fresh up to a year 1928 One of the first companies to adopt Rosefield’s process was Swift & Company. The company was later renamed Peter Pan. 1932 Rosefield began producing peanut butter under the Skippy label. Skippy created the first crunchy-style peanut butter two years later. 1955 Procter & Gamble entered the peanut butter business and introduced Jif in 1958. Now owned by the J.M. Smucker Company, Jif operates the world’s largest peanut butter plant, producing 250,000 jars every day! PB Today Peanut butter today is remarkably similar to that produced more than a century ago. To legally label the spread as peanut butter, it must contain a minimum of 90% peanuts with no artificial sweeteners, colors or preservatives. Note: Some brands add natural sweeteners and salt, plus stabilizers for freshness. Natural peanut butter has no stabilizer but may contain natural sweeteners and salt.