Don’t you think that peanut butter sounds as though it should be one of the simplest foods in the cupboard? Roast peanuts, grind them and put them in a jar. You’ll find that is exactly how some products are made, but look closely, and you’ll find some jars contain added sugar, palm oil, fully hydrogenated vegetable fat, emulsifiers or flavourings. Not ideal if you are looking for non-UPF peanut butter, is it?
Fortunately, finding UPF-free peanut butter in UK supermarkets is much easier than finding simple versions of many other packaged foods. Several good value jars contain 100% peanuts, while others add only a little sea salt – which is absolutely fine.
I’ve pulled together some great options of non-UPF peanut butter. I’ll also explain why the oil sometimes separates and help you read the label without treating every processed ingredient as something to avoid. It is an ingredient-led blog post, not an official certification or a claim that one food determines the quality of an entire diet.
It’s worth remembering that manufacturers reformulate products, so always read the current jar, especially if you are trying a new brand or a new variety of UPF-free peanut butter.
The Best Non-UPF Peanut Butter in the UK
Is Peanut Butter Ultra-Processed?
Peanut butter isn’t automatically ultra-processed just because peanuts have been roasted and ground.
The best UPF-free peanut butter contains one ingredient: peanuts. Salt is also an ordinary culinary ingredient, so a product made from peanuts and salt can fit the brief of non-UPF peanut butter. Peanut butter becomes more likely to be classed as ultra-processed when it is formulated with ingredients such as:
- Added flavourings
- Emulsifiers
- Modified starches
- Maltodextrin
- Artificial sweeteners
- Protein isolates
- Several refined fats used to alter its texture
Sugar and palm oil do not provide a perfect UPF test on their own. Both are processed culinary ingredients, and classification depends on the complete formulation and purpose of the ingredients. However, neither is necessary to make peanut butter, and choosing a 100% peanut jar is probably your best option.
The British Nutrition Foundation explains that the NOVA system covers a very wide range of foods and that nutritional quality still needs to be considered alongside processing. “Non-UPF” does not automatically mean low-calorie, low-salt or suitable for every person.
How These Peanut Butters Were Chosen
The peanut butter in my post contain either:
- 100% peanuts; or
- Peanuts plus ordinary sea salt
They do not list added sugar, palm oil, hydrogenated fat, emulsifiers, preservatives or flavourings. Smooth and crunchy versions can both qualify; texture tells you very little about processing.
My post focuses on non-UPF peanut butter which is sold by large UK supermarkets, rather than hard-to-find specialist jars.
Non-UPF Peanut Butter
| Peanut butter | Current ingredients | Best for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury’s 100% Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Affordable own brand | Sainsbury’s |
| Nuts About Nature Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Large packs and good value | Tesco |
| Tesco 100% Smooth Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Widely accessible own brand | Tesco |
| Waitrose 100% Peanuts Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Smooth or crunchy hi-oleic option | Waitrose |
| M&S 100% Peanut Butter | Peanuts | M&S and Ocado shoppers | M&S and Ocado |
| Meridian Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Broad size range, no salt | Major supermarkets |
| Whole Earth 100% Peanut Butter | Peanuts | Smooth, crunchy or drizzler formats | Waitrose, Tesco and Ocado |
| Pip & Nut Classic Roast Peanut Butter | Peanuts and sea salt | A lightly salted taste | Major supermarkets |
| ManiLife Peanut Butter | Peanuts and sea salt | A richer roasted, salted option | Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado |
Sainsbury’s 100% Peanut Butter
Sainsbury’s standard 100% smooth and crunchy peanut butters list only peanuts. There is no added oil, sugar or salt.
The current 340g smooth jar and larger 1kg tubs make this a great own-brand choice and one we buy often. If a lot of you eat peanut butter, a large tub can be economical for porridge, sauces, and baking, as well as on toast.
Do not confuse it with Sainsbury’s Organic Peanut Butter. That organic jar currently contains 99% peanuts and sea salt. It still has a straightforward two-ingredient recipe, but it is not literally a 100% peanut product.
Nuts About Nature 100% Peanut Butter
Nuts About Nature smooth and crunchy peanut butter contains 100% peanuts. Tesco currently sells both 340g jars and 1kg tubs.
The crunchy 340g jar lists no added oil, sugar or salt and provides a clearly published ingredient and nutrition panel. The 1kg tub is a good value option, but it’s best to compare value per kilogram rather than assuming that a smaller jar has the lowest overall price.
You’ll find that natural oil separation will occur in most non-UPF peanut butters. This is completely normal, so you’ll need to give it a good stir first.
Tesco 100% Smooth Peanut Butter
Tesco also sells a separate own-brand 100% smooth peanut butter made entirely with nuts.
It is a simple, mainstream option for Tesco shoppers who do not need an organic or premium product. I would suggest you check the exact label because other peanut butters sold under supermarket ranges will most likely have different recipes and ingredients.
Waitrose 100% Peanuts Peanut Butter
Waitrose offers both smooth and crunchy jars made entirely from hi-oleic Argentinian peanuts. You’ll find the smooth version contains no added sugar, salt or palm oil. Waitrose also mentions that separation is expected and recommends stirring before spreading.
Hi-oleic describes a peanut variety with a higher proportion of oleic acid. It does not determine whether the product is UPF; the important fact here is still the one-ingredient recipe so it fits the bill of being a UPF-free peanut butter.
M&S 100% Peanut Butter
M&S smooth and crunchy peanut butters are also made with 100% high-oleic peanuts. We’ve had this a few times, and it’s very nice. The M&S 100% smooth peanut butter sold by Ocado contains no palm oil and no additional ingredients. The crunchy version follows the same simple approach, making these really good UPF-free peanut butters.
This is a good choice for people who already shop at M&S or Ocado. Although this isn’t the best value jar, if you are being very budget-conscious, you should compare this with supermarket own-brand alternatives.
Meridian 100% Peanut Butter
Meridian is one of the easiest 100% peanut brands to find across UK supermarkets. Its smooth and crunchy recipes contain whole peanuts roasted with their skins and nothing else. It’s another one we have regularly, and it works well for everything.
The Meridian smooth 280g jar is currently stocked by Tesco, with other sizes available at several retailers. It contains no added salt, sugar or palm oil.
Meridian’s larger tubs may make sense for those that bake with peanut butter as well. We find the tubs can be quite handy if we have a lot of baking going on. Compare the prices per 100g or kilo as promotions can make the best-value size change from week to week.
Whole Earth 100% Peanut Butter
Whole Earth now sells a specific 100% range in smooth, crunchy and squeezable “Drizzler” formats. The Whole Earth 100% smooth jar contains only peanuts. This is very different from several longer-established Whole Earth peanut butter that contain palm oil and salt, so make sure you check you’ve picked up the right one.
This is one example where a brand can sell both a one-ingredient peanut butter and another jar with a different formulation. Look for “100%” on the exact product and confirm it against what’s listed on the jar.
You may find the Drizzler format can be convenient for porridge, yoghurt or fruit, but convenience does not change its classification when the contents remain 100% peanuts.
Pip & Nut Classic Roast Peanut Butter
Pip & Nut’s classic smooth and crunchy peanut butters contain peanuts and a small amount of sea salt. They do not contain palm oil, added sugar, emulsifiers or flavourings.
The current Pip & Nut crunchy peanut butter has a simple recipe and is available in a few sizes.
I think this is a good option for anyone who finds unsalted 100% peanut butter a little flat. But it isn’t suitable for anyone who is after a no-salt option.
ManiLife Peanut Butter
ManiLife’s Original Roast and Deep Roast smooth and crunchy peanut butters currently contain 99.1% hi-oleic peanuts and 0.9% sea salt. The organic versions use a similarly short peanuts-and-salt recipe.
The Original Roast crunchy jar is a straightforward non-UPF option for people who prefer a saltier, more pronounced roasted flavour.
You will find that it costs more than many own-brand 100% jars, so the decision is primarily about taste and texture rather than finding a “cleaner” ingredient list. Try a jar and see which you prefer.
Which Peanut Butters Need More Careful Reading?
Several familiar peanut butters use recipes designed to remain thick, sweet and evenly mixed without stirring.
Essential Waitrose Crunchy Peanut Butter currently contains 97% roasted peanuts, palm oil, cane sugar and sea salt. These are familiar ingredients, but it is less clear-cut, due to the palm oil, than Waitrose’s separate 100% peanut range.
Whole Earth Organic Smooth Peanut Butter currently contains 91% peanuts, palm oil and sea salt. It should not be confused with Whole Earth 100%, which has a different formulation. It’s worth reading the ingredients carefully.
Sun-Pat Smooth Peanut Butter contains 94% peanuts, along with additional ingredients that create its familiar sweet, stable texture. Sun-Pat isn’t UPF-free peanut butter, even if it’s one that you are most familiar with.
Some American-style peanut butters contain added sugar and hydrogenated vegetable oils. Hydrogenation can keep the product from separating, producing the uniform texture some shoppers prefer.
None of this means somebody should feel alarmed about eating a conventional peanut butter. The point is simply that people who are trying to cut down on their UPF food might want to look for 100% peanuts in their peanut butter.
Is Palm Oil Ultra-Processed?
Palm oil is a processed culinary ingredient, not an infallible sign that the complete food is ultra-processed. A peanut butter made from peanuts, palm oil and salt sits in a greyer area than a peanut butter containing emulsifiers and flavourings.
There are separate environmental questions around palm oil. “Palm oil free” and “non-UPF” are both things you might want to think about, but aren’t the same thing. If you want a non-UPF peanut butter, select a jar containing only peanuts.
Why Does Natural Peanut Butter Separate?
Peanuts naturally contain oil. After they are ground, that oil can gradually rise while the denser peanut solids settle.
Separation is not a sign that the jar has gone bad. It actually shows that the manufacturer has not added a solid fat or stabiliser to their recipe.
Simply stir from the bottom of the jar, moving slowly at first to avoid spilling oil over the rim. I find that a narrow butter knife can be easier than a spoon. Once mixed, the texture of your non-UPF peanut butter will become much more even.
Storing a well-mixed jar in a cool cupboard may be sufficient if the label permits it. Refrigeration can slow separation but also makes peanut butter firmer and harder to spread. I’d suggest you follow the instructions on your particular jar.
Smooth or Crunchy: Which Is Non-UPF Peanut Butter?
Neither texture is automatically less processed.
It’s simply down to the fact that smooth peanut butter is milled more finely. Crunchy peanut butter has pieces of peanut added or retained. Both can be made from 100% peanuts, and both can also be manufactured with additional fats, sugar or stabilisers. You should choose whichever texture you like from your non-UPF peanut butter.
Choose according to how you use it:
- Smooth spreads more easily and blends into sauces
- Crunchy adds texture to toast, porridge and baking
- A squeezable 100% product is convenient for drizzling
- A salted recipe may taste fuller without extra toppings
The ingredient list remains more useful than the front-of-pack texture description.
Is Non-UPF Peanut Butter Healthy?
Peanut butter provides protein, fibre and predominantly unsaturated fats, but it is also energy dense. A simple formulation does not turn it into an unlimited food or make it suitable for everybody.
Consider:
- Portion size
- Whether salt or sugar has been added
- The rest of the meal
- Individual allergy requirements
- Whether a smooth or crunchy texture is age-appropriate
A spoonful stirred into porridge or spread on wholegrain toast can make a filling breakfast. Pairing it with fruit adds variety and fibre.
Peanut Allergy and Serving Children Safely
Peanuts are a major allergen. Anyone with a diagnosed peanut allergy should avoid peanut butter and follow their individual medical advice.
The NHS recommends introducing foods that can trigger an allergy one at a time from around six months so a reaction can be identified. Parents of babies with eczema, an existing allergy or a family history of allergic conditions should speak to a GP or health visitor before introducing peanut butter to your child’s diet.
Whole and chopped nuts are a choking hazard for young children. Smooth peanut butter can be thinned with water, milk or a familiar purée rather than served as a thick sticky spoonful. Current NHS guidance also says that, once peanut has been introduced and tolerated, it should continue to be offered as part of the child’s usual diet. If you are using it for food that will be taken into a nursery or school setting, you will need to check their policy on nuts, as a lot of places won’t allow food made with peanuts (or any nuts) in it.
Always check precautionary “may contain” statements if you have to be aware of allergies in your diet. The Food Standards Agency provides current consumer guidance on food allergies and intolerance.
Easy Ways to Use Non-UPF Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is useful well beyond sandwiches. Try it:
- Spread on non-UPF bread with sliced banana
- Swirled into porridge with apple or berries
- Spoon-fed into plain yoghurt
- Spread thinly on UPF free crackers
- Blended into a banana smoothie
- Stirred into a simple satay-style sauce
- Mixed with lime and soy sauce for noodles
- Added to an oat-and-date snack mixture
- Stirred into lentil or sweet-potato soup
- Baked into simple peanut butter cookies
- Spread on apple slices
- Whisked into a salad dressing
For breakfast, it pairs naturally with my non-UPF cereal post. For lunch or snacks, use it with my non-UPF bread and recently published non-UPF crackers guide to show you which ones to buy.
Take a look at my 9 Month Old Breakfast Ideas and Breakfast Ideas for an 18 Month Old for breakfast inspiration for your little ones.
How to Make Peanut Butter at Home
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Homemade peanut butter can be made with one ingredient, although it is not automatically cheaper once the price of nuts and the appliance are factored in. You may need a specific blender if yours isn’t designed for making nut butters.
If you already want a powerful multipurpose appliance, the Vitamix Ascent A3500i blender is specifically described by Lakeland as suitable for making peanut butter as well as soups, smoothies and frozen desserts. It is a premium purchase, so it only makes sense if you will use its other features, but saying that it’s a pretty impressive all-rounder for delicious homemade food.
Ingredients
- 400g roasted unsalted peanuts
- A pinch of salt, optional
Method
- Put the peanuts in a sturdy food processor or high-powered blender.
- Process until they change from crumbs into a thick paste.
- Stop and scrape down the sides when necessary.
- Continue processing until the natural oils are released and the mixture becomes glossy.
- Add salt only after tasting.
- Transfer to a clean, dry jar and follow sensible refrigerated storage practices.
The transformation takes patience. The mixture may look dry and crumbly before it suddenly loosens. Avoid adding water, which changes the texture and shortens the storage life.
I’d also check your appliance instructions before processing nuts. Smaller or lower-powered machines may overheat, and not every blender is designed to make nut butter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Non-UPF Peanut Butter
Which Peanut Butter Has Only Peanuts?
Current one-ingredient options include Sainsbury’s 100%, Nuts About Nature, Tesco 100%, Waitrose 100% Peanuts, M&S 100%, Meridian and Whole Earth 100%.
Always check the exact variety. Several of these brands also sell different recipes containing salt, sugar or added oil.
Is Meridian Peanut Butter Non-UPF?
Meridian’s standard smooth and crunchy peanut butters currently contain 100% peanuts, with no added sugar, salt, palm oil, emulsifier or flavouring. They are among the best non-UPF choices.
Is Pip & Nut Peanut Butter Ultra-Processed?
Pip & Nut Classic Roast smooth and crunchy peanut butters currently contain peanuts and sea salt. That simple recipe idea is a non-UPF peanut butter.
Flavoured or limited-edition products will have different ingredients, so check each jar that you buy.
Is Whole Earth Peanut Butter Non-UPF?
It depends on the product. Whole Earth 100% smooth, crunchy, and Drizzler peanut butters contain only peanuts. Some other Whole Earth jars contain palm oil and salt, and recipes vary.
The words “Whole Earth” alone are not enough; look for the specific 100% range and read its ingredients.
Is Sun-Pat Peanut Butter Ultra-Processed?
Standard Sun-Pat recipes contain more than peanuts, commonly including added sugar and a stabilising fat. You’ll find under the NOVA interpretation, they are likely to be considered ultra-processed.
Does Non-UPF Peanut Butter Contain Sugar?
Peanuts contain naturally occurring sugars, so the nutrition panel will not show zero sugar. A 100% peanut butter has no added sugar even though it contains a small amount of sugar naturally.
Check the ingredient list rather than relying only on the “of which sugars” line.
Does Peanut Butter Need to Be Organic?
No. Organic certification and processing classification answer different questions. A conventional jar containing 100% peanuts can have a simpler recipe than an organic jar containing peanuts, added oil and salt.
Can Dogs Eat Peanut Butter?
Some dogs can eat a small amount of plain peanut butter, but products containing xylitol are dangerous to dogs. Peanut butter is also high in fat and calories. Ask a vet if your dog has a medical condition or you are unsure, and never assume that a human food is suitable simply because its recipe is short.
How Should Natural Peanut Butter Be Stored?
Follow the jar instructions. Keep the lid and rim clean, use a dry utensil and avoid introducing crumbs or water. Refrigeration can reduce separation but makes the texture firmer. You should throw it away if it develops mould, an unpleasant rancid smell or another unexpected change.
Which Non-UPF Peanut Butter Is Best?
For a non-UPF peanut butter, I would suggest looking for a jar made with 100% peanuts. Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Nuts About Nature, Waitrose and M&S all offer own-brand options, while Meridian and Whole Earth 100% are widely available branded alternatives. It comes down to preference and budget.
Pip & Nut and ManiLife are straightforward choices for people who prefer salt already blended into the jar to add a bit more flavour. These UPF-free peanut butters are also ideal, but those who don’t want salt in their peanut butter should choose one of the 100% alternatives.
There is no need to pay a premium solely to avoid UPFs; you’ll find several supermarket own-brand jars contain exactly the same single ingredient as more expensive products. So check your jars and find one that you love spreading, drizzling or baking with.