Why Does Peanut Butter Not Spoil?

Question

The jar of peanut butter contains no preservatives and does not need refrigeration after opening

Answer 1

It does spoil. Most commercial peanut butter contains preservatives. One reason is that if it does spoil, it can contain afflotoxins, which are among the most dangerous human carcinogens.

Answer 2

First is this peanut butter obtained by hydrogenation of the peanut oil, if so here is the story:

Back in the early 1900's three things were at work.

The use of modern agricultural methods that made possible the harvest of large crops

The experimentation of organic chemistry into food products.

The development of railroads and other means of transportation of food items.

Well, with large crops appearing, the oil from those crops was obtained in large quantiities, but alot of it tended to go rancid before it could be sold.

Organic chemists found that hydrogen would react with the healthy vegetable oils to make a semi-solid substance of the consistancy of butter, but could withstand high heat (seeing it had no protein). An more remarkably, it was not prone to go rancid as easily, as it was not chemically reactive.

So, these hydrogenated oils made industrial production, transport of products that could sit on the shelf for months of thing like cookies, ect possible.

But back then, they did not consider that since these products were not easily broken down by bacteria, or the oxygen in the air, that, well....., maybe the human body did not know what to do with them either.

In the first issue of the 1930 edition of Science, the question was asked, "why are so many people in their early 50's now dying of heart disease". My guess is the advent of hydrogenation of vegetable oils was the cause of this trend.

Only now, are there modest efforts to curb the use of these things in our foods.

Natural peanut butter, the kind you have to mix with a spoon, that will go bad on you much quicker than the hydrogenated variety.

I keep mine in the fridge after I mix it so as to keep it from spoiling.

Answer 3

It does spoil, but peanut oil doesn't go rancid for 2 years at room temp.

Answer 4

There is an expiry date even for bottled water, so it applies to so called peanut butter even you feel it's not spoilt..

Answer 5

It does spoil after a awhile. It gets aphlotoxins, very toxic.

Answer 6

It does. The only food that never spoils is honey.

Answer 7

it does spoil sorry to ruin your day. try getting smaller jars if it spoils before you eat it all.

Answer 8

It does, the oil in the nuts turn rancid.

Answer 9

IT DOES SPOIL

the oils oxidize (turn rancid), but its a slow process.

Answer 10

I believe because it contains a high oil level. :)