Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Brief History of Peanut Butter

From the feb. 23rd Time Magazine.

The recent salmonella outbreak has led to the recall of many items containing peanut butter.

It's true inventor is unknown, but Dr. John Kellogg has a good claim to it. In 1895, the cereal pioneer patented a process for turning raw peanuts into a butter-like vegetarian health food that he fed his his clients at his Battle Creek, Michigan, sanitorium.

1922-1932-- George Washington Carver invented more than 300 uses for peanuts, including a peanut cheese and coffee. However, peanut butter not among them.

1930s-- Snickers becomes the first major candy bar with peanuts.

1940s-- wartime rationing of sugar and lard (lard?) led to increased popularity of peanut butter andjelly sandwiches. In one 2002 estimate, the average American child eats 1,500 PBJ sandwiches before graduating from high school.

Today, peanut butter is an $800 million industry.

And You Though Peanut Butter Was Just for getting a Kick Out of Watching Dogs Try to Eat It. --Cooter

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