If you’re like most Americans, then you grew up eating one of the country’s all-time favorite sandwiches — peanut butter and jelly. In fact, you may be a kid at heart and still enjoy having a PB&J to satisfy your stomach even to this day.
But you’ve probably heard the rumors.
Does peanut butter have bugs in it?
Yes, there are at least some bugs in your peanut butter. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows companies to include insect parts in what is basically the country’s favorite bread spread.
Wait, what?
Read on to learn the details!
Does Peanut Butter Have Bugs In It?
When you grab a piece of bread or a cracker to spread some delicious peanut butter on it, probably the last thing on your mind is how many bugs you’re also consuming. So, it may come as a complete shock to you to find out that you are, in fact, eating creepy crawlies along with your favorite snack.
It may come as a complete shock to you to find out that you are, in fact, eating creepy crawlies along with your favorite snack.
But before we really get into the rather disgusting facts of this, it must be said that nothing we eat is completely free of bugs.
In fact, every single mouthful of food that you consume will contain a tiny amount of bugs, viruses, and bacteria — and sometimes even some fecal matter.
Yuck!
However, you should also know that none of these things pose a real threat to your overall health. That’s because our own human bodies form the habitat for many tiny spiders, lice, and microbial colonies, along with many different parasites that live in our intestinal systems.
Still, if you were completely unaware of this, then it can all seem a bit gross, and put you off of wanting to eat any food at all!
But now on to the main topic — peanut butter, the nation’s favorite spread.
You’ll probably be pleased to hear that peanut butter is one of the most controlled foods in America. However, the FDA does allow food manufacturers to factor in what it calls “food defects”, or “filth”, into the manufacturing of processed foods like chocolate, coffee, spaghetti sauce — and peanut butter.
So, what does the FDA allow into the average jar of branded peanut butter? Well, if you have a delicate stomach, then you should look away now — especially if you’ve just finished eating some peanut butter!
The Ick Factor
Although peanut butter happens to be one of the most controlled foods that you’ll find on your supermarket shelf, according to the FDA, manufacturers can allow an average of one or more rodent hairs, along with around 30 insect fragments in every 100 grams, which works out to 3.5oz.
So, what does this actually mean?
Well, with a typical serving of peanut butter being about two tablespoons, this means that you would be consuming around eight insect fragments, along with some rodent “filth”, whenever you have an average serving of peanut butter.
These insect fragments can come from ants, cockroaches, weevils, flies, crickets, aphids, beetles, moths, mealworms, thrips, mosquitoes, fruit flies, stink bugs, and other creepy crawlies, as well as their eggs and larvae.
These insect fragments can come from ants, cockroaches, weevils, flies, crickets, aphids, beetles, moths, mealworms, thrips, mosquitoes, fruit flies, stink bugs, and other creepy crawlies, as well as their eggs and larvae.
And by the way, jelly and jam have even lower FDA regulations. So you can only imagine how many bugs you’re actually eating in your average peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
So, here’s exactly what the FDA allows manufacturers to include in the average jar of branded peanut butter that you can buy at your local supermarket, according to its Food Defects Levels Handbook:
- Insect filth — 30 (or more) insect fragments per 100 grams (this is about eight tablespoons)
- Rodent filth — One or more rodent hairs per 100 grams
- Grit — Water insoluble inorganic residue (more than 25 micrograms per 100 grams)
The insect fragments that are allowed in peanut butter can happen during pre- or post-harvest, as well as during the actual processing of the food. This basically means cockroaches getting into the mixture at the factory.
Rodent hair contamination is also allowed during the food processing — along with its poop — and the grit is allowed to be adding during the harvesting.
Toxic Spread
And then there are the aflatoxins, which technically aren’t bugs, but they are living fungi molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus).
Both of these aflatoxins are commonly found in some of the most harvested agricultural crops, especially if they’re grown in high moisture and temperature climates. These crops include corn, oats, cottonseed — and peanuts.
Aflatoxins are commonly found in some of the most harvested agricultural crops, especially if they’re grown in high moisture and temperature climates. These crops include corn, cottonseed — and peanuts.
These silent and deadly molds are the cause of certain allergies, inflammation of the gut, autoimmune and heart issues, as well as parasitic infections. Aflatoxins are also associated with the development of liver disease and cancer in the body.
And besides the aflatoxins, peanuts are a crop where lots of pesticides are used in conventional growing. And some of these pesticides are carcinogenic, which means that overconsumption has the potential of causing cancers.
Choosing to buy organic peanut butter will go a long way in helping to avoid pesticides, because of the regulated growing practices needed for certification, as well as having a more stringent supply chain.
Yet, according to the FDA’s Bad Bug Book, “To date, there has never been a human illness outbreak caused by aflatoxins in the US, where foods are carefully regulated and inspected to prevent such an occurrence”.
So, although your usual jar of peanut butter won’t make you sick immediately, there is always a chance that consuming too much on a regular basis can have a detrimental effect on your overall health, because aflatoxins are indeed toxic, no matter what the FDA says.
So, although your usual jar of peanut butter won’t make you sick immediately, there is always a chance that consuming too much on a regular basis can have a detrimental effect on your overall health, because aflatoxins are indeed toxic, no matter what the FDA says.
However, it’s not all bad news, because there are two types of peanuts that are mostly free of these toxic fungi — Valencia and Jungle peanuts.
In addition, Valencia peanuts are healthier, because they contain nine essential aminos acids, as well as no omega-6 (the bad fat that clogs arteries), and resveratrol, which is an antioxidant that helps to reduce free radicals.
How To Enjoy A Healthier Spread
If you’re now unsure of the loyalty you’ve had to your favorite brand of peanuts butter, luckily good ‘ol Trader Joe’s sells an organic peanut butter made of Valencia peanuts that is one of the best on the market to avoid both pesticides and aflatoxins, although it is impossible to guarantee that there aren’t any bugs in it!
Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter contains only two ingredients — organic Valencia peanuts and sea salt — that are grown in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
This delicious peanut butter is naturally sweet, so doesn’t need added flavor enhancers or sweeteners, while it is rich in vitamin E, protein, fiber, folate, and other essential minerals and nutrients, so that you can enjoy your PB&J knowing that you’ve made the healthiest choice.
Creamy (or Crunchy) Conclusion
If after reading all of this article you haven’t been put off enjoying your favorite jar of peanut butter, then more power to you.
So, does peanut butter have bugs in it? Well, that’s a definite yes, and unfortunately, there’s no way to get around this issue.
However, there is a healthier choice available from Trader Joe’s with its Organic Creamy Salted Valencia peanut butter, which is free of pesticides and aflatoxins — although you won’t be able to avoid bugs altogether because that’s basically impossible.
However, like all of the other foods that you consume on a daily basis, this isn’t a big deal, because it won’t make you sick, as long as you don’t eat too much. Plus the fact, your body is full of bugs already, so just enjoy your next bite without worrying too much about it.
