SunButter a taste-positive alternative for peanut-free diets

Not everyone is able to eat peanuts, whether due to allergies or other reasons, but thanks to products like SunButter, many can still have a similar taste experience while remaining nut-free.

People who are unable to eat peanut butter, or who just prefer to go in another direction, have numerous alternatives nowadays. Many people choose almond or cashew butters. But, another tasty alternative is sunflower seed butter, a nut-free alternative.

Products such as SunButter are made with sunflower seeds as the main ingredient. It can be used just as one would use peanut butter, and has a delicious peanut-like flavor. SunButter can even be used in recipes calling for peanut butter. I, for instance, have used SunButter as a substitute in “peanut butter” cookies, and have gotten great—and delicious—results.

According to the USDA, SunButter was developed via an agreement between the Agricultural Research Service and a major sunflower seed producer located in Fargo, ND, Red River Commodities, Inc. SunButter was initially introduced to the market in 2002, and has since launched a variety of SunButter products, from natural SunButter to organic and crunchy varieties. According to the Red River Commodities, Inc. website, SunButter products are completely peanut-free, tree-nut free and gluten-free, making them a good choice for many people with allergies and/or gluten intolerance. And, the company indicates, the sunflower seed spread is a healthy choice for anyone. When compared to peanut butter, SunButter is an excellent alternative, the company states on its website:

Compared to peanut butter nutrition levels, SunButter® products are definitely a healthy alternative to peanut butter! With one-third less saturated fat and 27 percent of a day's recommended allowance of vitamin E in one serving, these products fit well into a healthy lifestyle and diet. Plus, SunButter® products have a much higher iron and fiber content than peanut butter and are a great source of protein.

According to the USDA, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that 3 million Americans are allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts, with symptoms ranging from a mild case of hives to severe anaphylactic shock. Because children make up a growing number of those allergic, some schools have opted not to allow peanut butter in their cafeterias. But, with the development of healthy nut-free alternatives like SunButter, people with peanut allergies may be able to experience an equivalent taste sensation to peanut butter without the health risks.

When SunButter was released in 2002, Red River revealed to the USDA that the secret to the delicious and peanut taste of the seed butter was in the way the seeds are processed. Southern Regional Research Center research chemist Isabel Lima and Southern Regional Research Center food technologist Harmeet Guraya discovered a way to process sunflower seeds naturally so that they taste “nutbuttery” when they are blended with other ingredients. The finished product looks similar to peanut butter, and does have a taste similar to peanut butter, although it does retain some of the unique sunflower seed flavor, as well.

Whether you are looking for an alternative to nut butters for health reasons, or you would just like to try something different, SunButter is a choice worth checking. Visit the SunButter website for more information about the product; answers to frequently asked questions; and recipes for using SunButter in your kitchen!

Image: SunButter Website

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