WASHINGTON – Raise your peanut butter-filled spoons in honor of National Peanut Butter Day.
Whether you’re a fan of the creamy, crunchy or natural, peanut butter is an American lunchtime staple.
In honor of the spreadable snack, here are some fun facts about peanut butter:
- It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
- There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
- Peanut butter was first introduced to the USA in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis by C.H. Sumner, who sold $705.11 of the “new treat” at his concession stand.
- Two peanut farmers have been elected president of the USA – Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
- Grand Saline, TX holds the title for the world’s largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich weighing in at 1,342 pounds. Grand Saline outweighed Oklahoma City’s 900 pounds peanut butter and jelly sandwich in November 2010. Oklahoma City, OK had been the reigning champ since September 7, 2002.
- Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard brought a peanut with him to the moon.
- Americans were first introduced to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in 1928.
- Peanut butter was the secret behind “Mr. Ed,” TV’s talking horse.
- Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.
- The world’s largest peanut butter factory churns out 250,000 jars of the tasty treat every day.
- The average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut butter products each year.
- The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.
- Women and children prefer creamy, while most men opt for chunky.
- People living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style.
- Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.
- Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than any nut.
- Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, Concord grape juice, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots and many more.
- Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free.
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