Although this rant is about Skippy Peanut Butter I have to tell you, I’m not a serious people person. I’m also not a big grocery shopping person. Not liking the whole grocery shopping experience is because I encounter insane amounts of inconsiderate, often clueless people wandering the grocery aisles in a daze. Often looking at their cell phones and running into me. Not what I call a joyous occasion but if we want to nourish our bodies, it is a necessity.
Another reason I don’t like grocery shopping is because of all the lies I’m bombarded with when it comes to food marketing. From Keto bread to Reduced Fat, to Cage Free eggs, blah, blah blah.
Skippy Peanut Butter Deception
Photo credit: @peanutbutter.com
The marketing from Skippy Peanut Butter is what’s got my goat today. I grew up on Skippy Peanut Butter and didn’t care when I was 12 it might have FAT in it. Today I don’t care that it has fat. Well, one because I don’t eat it, but two, I truly don’t. The contents of PUFA’s or polyunsaturated fats isn’t the issue. The issue is that the makers of Skippy Peanut Butter (Hormel Foods… yes, the makers of Spam) think it’s a good idea to label Skippy with a bright label that says “Reduced fat”. Like we care that Skippy Peanut Butter has reduced fat.
Enter Hydrogenated Oils instead of Partially-Hydrogenated oils
Many years ago, I took a photo of Skippy Peanut Butter because the then owner of the Skippy Brand, Unilever, had labeled it “As Always No Trans Fat”. I knew then that Unilever was walking a thin line because on the back of the label are the words, Hydrogenated Oils. Technically, Trans Fats are partially-hydrogenated oils not Hydrogenated oils.
Now to a clueless, unsuspecting grocery shopper, this goes unnoticed, but to someone who has studied food for a little more than 35 years. I feel I need to take a photo of this occasion. You probably think, Yep, Rocco has finally lost it, he’s fit for his straight jacket as he writes this post. Bear with me for a moment.
Now present day, I believe the new owner, Hormel Foods, should stop trying to deceive you. Skippy Peanut Butter is now touting it has reduced fat. Although America’s favorite peanut butter may have reduced fat. But if you don’t pay attention to the front label and turn the jar around, you will find bright as day other harmful yet mundane sounding ingredients like Corn Syrup, Soy Protein concentrate, Hydrogenated oils and mono & diglycerides. Hydrogenated oils, no matter what Hormel Foods marketing department tells you, are still harmful to your body.
Inflammation Caused by Hydrogenated Oils
Hydrogenated oils, just like partially-hydrogenated oils, cause inflammation. Inflammation actually causes most heart issues, cancer and diabetes. The big three. Inflammation can also cause many other ailments, such as joint pain, gout, headaches, muscle aches.
Technically, the FDA banned partially-hydrogenated oil or trans-fat in any food, not “hydrogenated oils”, which in studies is just as bad. The ban went into force on June 18, 2018. But some foods were grandfathered until January 2020, and in many cases until 2021. However, and this is important, companies recently started using fully hydrogenated oils to get around the ban, and the FDA happily allowed this deception.
It’s important to know what’s in the food that you believe may be healthy. Just because a label states something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Do your research, read the labels and always know what you are putting in your body. It’s your health, no one else’s.