Fact Finder - Food and Drink

Fact
The Origin of Peanut Butter
Category
Food and Drink
Subcategory
Everyday Foods
Country
Canada
Description
While many associate George Washington Carver with peanut butter, he did not invent it; he was, however, a pioneer in discovering over 300 uses for peanuts. The first patent for 'peanut paste' was actually granted to Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884. He wanted to create a protein-rich food for people who had difficulty chewing solid food. Later, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of cereal fame) patented a process for making peanut butter from steamed peanuts in 1895. The 'everyday' creamy version we know today was perfected by Joseph Rosefield, who in 1922 developed a process for 'hydrogenating' the oil. This prevented the peanut oil from separating and floating to the top, allowing the product to be shelf-stable for months.