Peter Pan (peanut butter) facts for kids
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| Owner | Post Holdings |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1928 |
| Previous owners | Conagra Brands (1988–2021) Beatrice/Hunt–Wesson (1984–1988) Swift & Company (1928–1984) |
Peter Pan is a popular American brand of peanut butter. It's made by Post Consumer Brands, which is part of Post Holdings. The brand got its name from the famous J. M. Barrie character. This peanut butter was first introduced in 1928 by a company called Swift & Company. Peter Pan was also one of the first peanut butter brands to be sold in plastic jars, starting in 1988.
Contents
The Story of Peter Pan Peanut Butter
How Peter Pan Peanut Butter Started
The story of Peter Pan peanut butter began in 1915. At that time, a company called Derby Foods made peanut butter under a different name, E.K. Pond Company. This company was named after Edmund Kirk Pond.
In 1904, Swift & Company bought Derby Foods. The E.K. Pond Company also tried selling peanut butter under names like "Yankee" and "Toyland." However, these brands were not very successful.
A New Way to Make Peanut Butter
In 1921, a person named Joseph L. Rosefield created a special way to make peanut butter. His method used partially hydrogenated peanut oil. This helped the peanut butter stay mixed and not separate.
In 1923, Derby Foods got a license to use Rosefield's new method. They first sold this improved peanut butter as "Dainty" or "Delicia." But these names didn't help sales much.
Becoming "Peter Pan"
The biggest boost in sales happened in 1928. Derby Foods decided to use the popular name "Peter Pan" for their peanut butter. This name came from the famous play by James M. Barrie. Peter Pan Peanut Butter quickly became a best-seller.
How the Jars Changed
When it first came out, Peter Pan peanut butter came in a tin can. It had a special key to open it and a lid that could be closed again. During World War II, there was a shortage of metal. Because of this, the packaging changed to glass jars. Later, in 1988, Peter Pan was the first peanut butter brand to be sold in plastic jars.
Who Owns Peter Pan Now?
For many years, Conagra Brands owned Peter Pan. But on December 8, 2020, Conagra announced they would sell the brand to Post Holdings. This sale was completed on January 25, 2021. So now, Peter Pan is part of Post Holdings.
Promoting Peter Pan
Over the years, several famous people have helped promote Peter Pan peanut butter. These spokesmen included actors like Sterling Holloway and Mark Linn-Baker. Comedian Alan Sues and game show host Art James also helped advertise the brand.
Interestingly, in earlier advertisements, the Peter Pan character was often shown as a woman dressed in a Peter Pan costume. This was different from the boy character in the original stories.
Types of Peter Pan Peanut Butter
Peter Pan Peanut Butter comes in many different types today. You can find it in about 10 varieties. These include:
- Creamy Original
- Crunchy Original
- Creamy Whipped
- Creamy Honey Roast
- Crunchy Honey Roast
- Natural Creamy
- Natural Creamy Honey Roast
- Original Almond Butter
- Vanilla Roast Almond Butter
- Honey Roast Almond Butter
Product Safety Recall
In 2007, there was a food safety issue linked to Peter Pan peanut butter. Some jars of Peter Pan and certain Great Value peanut butters were connected to people getting sick. This happened across the United States. Health officials believed it was the first time a food safety issue like this involved peanut butter in the U.S.
The recall included Peter Pan and some Great Value peanut butter. These products had a special code on them that started with "2111." The recall covered all peanut butter made by ConAgra (the owner at the time) that had been sold since October 2004. Peter Pan products returned to stores in late August 2007 after the issue was resolved.
