0.0
Least Processed Peanut Butter Brands
Natural peanut butter needs exactly one ingredient: peanuts. Maybe salt. Industrial peanut butter adds hydrogenated vegetable oils (to prevent separation), sugar, and mono and diglycerides. The oil you see floating on top of natural peanut butter is actually a sign of minimal processing.
Peanut Butter at a Glance
Total Products
12,353
in our database
Brands Analyzed
561
unique brands
Avg Processing Score
3.8
Moderate processing
Processing Distribution
Minimal30%
Processed47%
Highly22%
Ultra2%
15 Least Processed Peanut Butter Brands
Brands ranked by lowest average processing score across all their products in this category.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glaser organic farms | 11 | 1.0 7.4 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | Cream-nut | 9 | 1.0 7.5 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | Heinens | 24 | 1.0 4.6 | 0 | 24 |
| 4 | Nutup | 4 | 1.0 8.5 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Pepperwood | 3 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Dierbergs markets | 3 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Arheon | 3 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | Sweet ellas | 10 | 1.0 7.3 | 0 | 10 |
| 9 | Zinke orchards | 8 | 1.0 7.5 | 0 | 8 |
| 10 | Moms nuts! | 3 | 1.0 8.5 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Sadaf | 7 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 7 |
| 12 | Krema | 6 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 6 |
| 13 | Laurel | 6 | 1.0 5.7 | 0 | 6 |
| 14 | Brads organic | 7 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Sprouted almonds | 3 | 1.0 10.0 | 0 | 3 |
Closest Look: Top 5 Least Processed
11 peanut butter products
Ultra-processed: 0 (0%)
Minimal: 11 (100%)
1.0
Minimal
Processing
7.4
Excellent
Nutrition
9 peanut butter products
Ultra-processed: 0 (0%)
Minimal: 9 (100%)
1.0
Minimal
Processing
7.5
Excellent
Nutrition
24 peanut butter products
Ultra-processed: 0 (0%)
Minimal: 24 (100%)
1.0
Minimal
Processing
4.6
Fair
Nutrition
1.0
Minimal
Processing
8.5
Excellent
Nutrition
3 peanut butter products
Ultra-processed: 0 (0%)
Minimal: 3 (100%)
1.0
Minimal
Processing
8.0
Excellent
Nutrition
Least Processed Peanut Butter Products
Individual products with the lowest processing scores.
PEANUT BUTTER
East wind1 ingredient
1.0
8.0
ORGANIC ETHIOPIAN STONE GROUND TAHINI SESAME BUTTER
Pepperwood1 ingredient
1.0
8.0
TAHINI
Sadaf1 ingredient
1.0
8.0
DASTONY, ORGANIC SPROUTED ALMOND BUTTER
Dastony1 ingredient
1.0
8.0
100% PURE SESAME TAHINI
Sadaf1 ingredient
1.0
8.0
PECAN BUTTER
Georgia grinders1 ingredient
1.0
6.0
PEANUT POWDER FROM ROASTED PEANUTS
Santa cruz organic1 ingredient
1.0
10.0
ALMOND BUTTER
Publix greenwise1 ingredient
1.0
8.5
ALMOND BUTTER ORGANIC CREAMY, ALMOND BUTTER
365 whole foods market1 ingredient
1.0
0.0
CREAMY ALMOND BUTTER, CREAMY
365 whole foods market1 ingredient
1.0
8.5
Most Processed Peanut Butter Products
Individual products with the highest processing scores.
MONSTER COOKIE PEANUT BUTTER, MONSTER COOKIE
Fit butters38 ingredients
30.6
7.0
SCOTCHAROO HONEY ROASTED PEANUTS WITH CRISP RICE, CHOCOLATE, AND BUTTERSCOTCH FLAVORED CHIPS PEANUT SPREAD, SCOTCHAROO
Meijer34 ingredients
19.5
4.0
SCOTCHAROO PEANUT SPREAD, SCOTCHAROO
Meijer34 ingredients
19.5
4.0
PEANUT BUTTER WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA, PEANUT BUTTER WHITE CHOCOLATE
Fit fitters45 ingredients
18.3
7.0
CASHEW BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH, CASHEW BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP
Fit butters36 ingredients
17.1
6.0
BIRTHDAY CAKE CASHEW ALMOND BLEND, BIRTHDAY CAKE
Fit butters19 ingredients
16.5
8.0
RORY'S COOKIE MONSTER MADNESS CASHEW BUTTER, RORY'S COOKIE MONSTER MADNESS
Fit butters22 ingredients
15.9
7.0
COMPLETE PROTEIN SHAKES, STRAWBERRY CREAM
Eas39 ingredients
15.4
7.0
COMPLETE PROTEIN SHAKES, STRAWBERRY CREAM
Eas39 ingredients
15.4
7.0
COMPLETE PROTEIN SHAKE, STRAWBERRY CREAM
Eas39 ingredients
15.4
7.0
What to Look for on the Label
- 1The best peanut butter lists only "peanuts" or "peanuts, salt"
- 2Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils prevent separation but add trans fats
- 3Added sugar and molasses are unnecessary in quality peanut butter
- 4If it does not need refrigeration after opening and does not separate, it contains stabilizers
Most Processed Peanut Butter Brands
For comparison — brands with the highest average processing scores.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fit butters | 6 | 16.6 6.9 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | Abbott | 22 | 13.6 5.5 | 22 | 0 |
| 3 | Eas | 42 | 13.3 5.9 | 39 | 0 |
| 4 | Pan di stelle | 3 | 12.9 2.7 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | Mrs. millers | 3 | 11.8 6.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Jack&amos | 3 | 10.8 6.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | Walden farms | 6 | 10.3 3.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 8 | Virginia | 3 | 9.5 6.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Tropical | 4 | 8.9 4.1 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Bnutty | 9 | 8.3 6.8 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | Natures best | 7 | 8.2 6.0 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | Ferrero | 3 | 8.0 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nutella | 33 | 7.9 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Pirouline | 3 | 7.9 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Forrelli | 5 | 7.7 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
How We Score Products
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 – 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 – 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Brand averages are calculated across all products in the category to produce the rankings shown here.
Based on analysis of 1.98 million products in the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look at the methodology, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is peanut butter ultra-processed?
Natural peanut butter (just peanuts, maybe salt) is Level 1. Commercial peanut butter with hydrogenated oils, sugar, and emulsifiers is Level 3. The difference is visible: natural PB separates, processed PB stays uniform.
Why does natural peanut butter separate?
Peanuts naturally release oil. Industrial peanut butter adds hydrogenated vegetable oils to prevent this separation, creating the uniform spreadable texture consumers expect.
Is almond butter less processed than peanut butter?
Not inherently — it depends on ingredients. Natural almond butter (just almonds) and natural peanut butter (just peanuts) are equally minimally processed.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about how individual foods are classified.
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Product formulations change frequently — always check the actual label for current ingredients and nutrition facts before making purchasing decisions. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.