Oct. 8, 2007 (KABC-TV) (KABC) -- Peanut butter is one of America's favorite snack foods, but many commercial brands contain both sugar and even a bit of partially hydrogenated oil. Both are deemed unnecessary by true peanut lovers.
Never mind that peanut butter offers a good dose of vitamin E, fiber, protein and a host of other vitamins and minerals. Many eat it because it is a tasty and comforting treat, but will we like it without the sugar and extra oil found in commercial brands? We put the natural peanut butters to the test.
At Sprouts Farmers Market in Torrance, taste testers sampled both smooth and chunky versions of natural peanut butter.
Contestants were MaraNatha Organic, Arrowhead Mills Organic Creamy Valencia, Sprouts Old-Fashioned, Smart Balance Omega, and Laura Scudder's Organic Nutty.
"I love this one, and I don't know which one it is," said taste tester Baiyoke Ishikawa.
Ishikawa picked the winner, and so did Audrey Ishimoto.
"I think I like the last one. I just like the creamy texture and the way it tastes," said Ishimoto.
"I go for something more natural," said taste tester Virginia Wood.
All of the tasters took the unscientific taste test very seriously. After thoughtful consideration and clearing the palate, most of the testers liked MaraNatha Organic smooth peanut butter, regardless of their normal preference.
"I would have to say the first one was my favorite, and as far as for chunky: the last one," said tester Carol Rust.
A two-tablespoon serving of these peanut butters offers an average of 180 calories, 16 grams of heart-healthy fat, and eight grams of protein, with no artificial chemicals, preservatives or sugar.
And while most cited health for the reason they buy natural, shopper Tony Cunha felt he had an even better reason for giving the nut-butters a go.
"I noticed peanut butter was on sale, so I thought I'd swing by and take a look," said Cunha.
By the way, his brand, Laura Scudder's Nutty, came in second place.
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