Jif Natural vs Smucker's Natural: 5 Ingredients vs 2

Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread lists five ingredients (peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt and molasses), while Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter lists two (peanuts and salt). Per 2 Tbsp, Jif Natural has 2 g of added sugars and Smucker's Natural has 0 g, and the same company, The J.M. Smucker Company, sells both jars.

Both labels list 190 calories and 16 g of total fat per 2 Tbsp. Jif Natural lists sugar, palm oil and molasses after peanuts and reports 2 g of added sugars and 80 mg of sodium per serving. Smucker's Natural lists only peanuts and salt, with 0 g of added sugars, 8 g of protein and 110 mg of sodium.

Key takeaways

• Jif Natural lists peanuts, sugar, palm oil, and 'Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Molasses.' Smucker's Natural lists 'Peanuts, Contains 1% Or Less Of Salt.'
• Per 2 Tbsp, Jif Natural has 190 calories, 80 mg sodium, 2 g added sugars and 7 g protein. Smucker's Natural has 190 calories, 110 mg sodium, 0 g added sugars and 8 g protein.
• The FDA has not established a formal definition of 'natural' on food labels, and the label alone does not settle whether an ingredient is normally expected, so both jars can use the word while listing different ingredients.
• Both list 16 g total fat per serving, with 3.5 g (Jif Natural) or 3 g (Smucker's Natural) saturated fat.
• The added sugars line, the sodium line and the ingredient list are where the two labels differ most.

At a glance, per 2 Tbsp serving:

Label item	Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread	Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
Serving size	2 Tbsp (33 g)	2 Tbsp (32 g)
Calories	190	190
Total fat	16 g (20% DV)	16 g (20% DV)
Saturated fat	3.5 g (17% DV)	3 g (14% DV)
Sodium	80 mg (3% DV)	110 mg (5% DV)
Total carbohydrate	8 g (3% DV)	7 g (2% DV)
Dietary fiber	3 g (9% DV)	3 g (10% DV)
Total sugars	4 g (label total, not added sugars)	2 g (label total, not added sugars)
Added sugars	2 g (4% DV)	0 g (0% DV)
Protein	7 g	8 g
Ingredients	Peanuts, Sugar, Palm Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Molasses	Peanuts, Contains 1% Or Less Of Salt
Ingredient wording (verbatim)	'Contains 2% Or Less Of'	'Contains 1% Or Less Of'

Does Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread Have Sugar and Palm Oil?

Yes. Per 2 Tbsp (33 g), Jif Natural has 2 g of added sugars (4% DV), and palm oil is listed in its ingredients. The verbatim ingredient list on Jif's product page reads 'Peanuts, Sugar, Palm Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Molasses,' so both sugar and palm oil appear in the list itself.

Does Jif Natural have sugar?

Yes. Per 2 Tbsp (33 g), the label shows 2 g of added sugars (4% DV) and 4 g of total sugars. The FDA's added sugars line counts sugars added during processing.

Does Jif Natural have palm oil?

Yes. Palm oil appears in the verbatim ingredient list: 'Peanuts, Sugar, Palm Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Salt, Molasses.' The brand page does not say where the palm oil is sourced or whether it is certified as sustainable, and that information is not disclosed.

The wording 'Contains 2% Or Less Of' places salt and molasses at 2 percent or less of the product. The label does not give the amount of palm oil or sugar.

Does Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Have Added Sugar?

No. The Smucker's Natural label lists 0 g of added sugars (0% DV) per 2 Tbsp serving (32 g).

Does Smucker's Natural have any sugar at all?

A little. The label lists 2 g of total sugars per 2 Tbsp (32 g), while the Added Sugars line reads 0 g (0% DV), so none of it is added sugar.

The ingredient list reads 'Peanuts, Contains 1% Or Less Of Salt,' with no sugar, sweetener or molasses named. Smucker's product page describes it as '100% natural and made with two simple ingredients: fresh-roasted peanuts and a dash of salt.'

What Does the 'Natural' Label Mean on Peanut Butter Jars?

FDA's longstanding policy holds that 'natural' means nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. The agency has not established a formal definition of the term. Its guidance is at FDA guidance on the use of the term natural.

Because no formal definition of 'natural' exists, the word on each jar rests on FDA's policy and on the brand's own wording.

Both jars use the term, yet the ingredient lists differ. Jif Natural includes sugar, palm oil and molasses, while Smucker's Natural lists peanuts and salt. Under FDA's policy, the question is whether each ingredient would normally be expected in peanut butter, and the label alone cannot settle that question.

Is Jif Natural really natural?

The label does not describe any listed ingredient as artificial or synthetic, but FDA has no formal definition to test the claim against. Jif Natural uses the word in its product name, and its brand copy says the product is 'made with five simple ingredients.' Whether sugar, palm oil and molasses would normally be expected in peanut butter is a judgment the label alone does not make.

How Much Added Sugar Is in Jif Natural vs Smucker's Natural Per 2 Tbsp?

Jif Natural has 2 g of added sugars per 2 Tbsp serving (4% DV), while Smucker's Natural has 0 g (0% DV). The FDA's Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day, so 2 g equals 4% of that amount.

The FDA says added sugars include sugars added during processing, so the Jif figure counts sugar put into the spread. Total sugars are a separate line: 4 g on the Jif label and 2 g on the Smucker's label.

When checking added sugar on any jar:

• Find the Added Sugars line directly under Total Sugars on the Nutrition Facts panel.
• Check the ingredient list for sugar, molasses and other sweeteners.
• Confirm the serving size, since the panel figures apply to that serving only.

A label reports the amount per serving. It does not show how much a person spreads, so the total sugar a person eats depends on portion size.

How Much Sodium Is in Jif Natural vs Smucker's Natural Per 2 Tbsp?

Jif Natural has 80 mg of sodium per 2 Tbsp serving (3% DV). Smucker's Natural has 110 mg (5% DV), a difference of 30 mg per serving.

The Smucker's ingredient list describes salt as 'Contains 1% Or Less Of,' which is a weight tier rather than a sodium amount. Neither brand page breaks down the sodium by ingredient, so that split is not disclosed.

People who track sodium can compare the 3% and 5% Daily Value figures with their own daily target, which may be set by a clinician or a label guideline they follow.

How Much Protein Is in Jif Natural vs Smucker's Natural Per 2 Tbsp?

Jif Natural has 7 g of protein per 2 Tbsp serving, and Smucker's Natural has 8 g. Both list 190 calories per serving.

Both labels list 3 g of dietary fiber and 18 mg of calcium (2% DV) per serving. Jif Natural lists 0.5 mg of iron and 192 mg of potassium (4% DV), plus 1 mg of vitamin E (10% DV) and 5 mg of niacin (30% DV). Smucker's Natural lists 1 mg of iron and 201 mg of potassium (4% DV).

Why Does Jif Natural Contain Molasses and Palm Oil When Smucker's Does Not?

Neither brand page explains why the two recipes differ, so the reason is not disclosed. The ingredient lists show that Jif Natural includes sugar, palm oil and molasses, while Smucker's Natural lists only peanuts and salt.

The labels show the difference but not the purpose: the brand pages do not say how either ingredient affects texture, stability or taste. Jif's page does describe its spread with 'No stirring required!', and Smucker's page says nothing about stirring. The sourcing of the palm oil, including whether it is sustainably sourced, is not disclosed.

For how another spread label handles palm oil, see Does Nutella Have Palm Oil? Nutella vs Nocciolata Ingredients.

What Peanut Butter Standard of Identity Allows Added Ingredients?

Under 21 CFR 164.150, peanut butter is ground roasted peanuts to which safe and suitable seasoning and stabilizing ingredients may be added. Those additions may not exceed 10 percent of the weight of the finished food in aggregate, and fat content may not exceed 55 percent. The regulation text is at 21 CFR 164.150 on eCFR.

The regulation text does not name sugar, palm oil or molasses, so this article does not say whether any of them falls under the seasoning or stabilizing category.

Why is Jif Natural called a peanut butter spread?

The reason Jif uses the word 'spread' is not disclosed on its brand page or in the regulation text. Nothing in the cited label or regulation text shows that the product fails the standard, so this article does not make that claim.

The product name pairs 'Spread' with 'Peanut Butter.' Jif's page says the spread 'contains 90% peanuts', which leaves 10% for sugar, palm oil, salt and molasses combined. The page does not say how that share is divided.

How Do You Read the Ingredient List on a Natural Peanut Butter Jar?

Start with the ingredient list, then check the added sugars and sodium lines on the Nutrition Facts panel. Ingredients are generally listed by weight, from most to least, and phrases such as 'Contains 2% or less of' mark small amounts without giving exact weights.

• Count the ingredients. Jif Natural names five, and Smucker's Natural names two.
• Look for 'Contains X% or less' wording, which signals small amounts.
• Find Added Sugars under Total Sugars and compare it per 2 Tbsp.
• Compare sodium in milligrams alongside its % Daily Value.
• Confirm the serving size printed on the jar before comparing numbers.

Jar labels and brand pages can change, so the jar in hand is the source to check. For the classic jars from both brands, see Jif or Skippy? Same 190 Calories, Different Ingredients.

Do Jif Natural and Smucker's Natural Come From the Same Company?

Yes. Both brand pages carry the footer '© THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY', which shows that the same company sells both products.

The two spreads use different brand names, product names and ingredient lists. Package size does not change the per-serving figures above.

This comparison reads label data only and cannot show how either spread affects any individual.

Related reading: If you also buy almond butter, What's the Difference Between Justin's and MaraNatha? Sugar compares Justin's Classic and MaraNatha No Stir Creamy on ingredients, added sugar, sodium and protein per 2 Tbsp.