Many of the major brands of peanut butter contain partially hydrogenated oils, which we recommend that you avoid. Partially hydrogenated oils are solid at room temperature, so the peanut butter manufacturers use them to keep the oil from separating and to give their products a very long shelf life. They don't have to add very much partially hydrogenated oil, but it is there look at the list of ingredients. They try to fool you because if the amount is less than .5 grams per serving, they can say "0 grams of trans fats" or "no trans fats." A serving of peanut butter is two tablespoons -- so they can put as much as 8 grams of trans fats in a 16-ounce jar and still attach a label that says "No Trans Fats"!.

If you think it's important to avoid trans fats, as we do, you will read the list of ingredients on every processed food you buy and put back any that include the words "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated". If you find a brand that does not contain partially hydrogenated oils, you may notice when you pick up a jar that there's about half an inch of oil at the top. You need to stir this in before you use it.

Most supermarkets now carry at least a few brands that don't contain partially hydrogenated oils. My current favorite is Smart Balance Omega Peanut Butter, which has the added bonus of omega-3 fatty acids, "good fats" that we all need.

I hope this means that the supermarkets are getting the message that we want choices that don't contain partially hydrogenated oils in peanut butter and all other foods. If you can't find these peanut butter in your supermarket, go to the Customer Service desk and 1) ask if they carry any peanut butter without partially hydrogenated oils (they may be able to tell you where it is), and 2) if the answer is no, ask them to stock some.