Nutritional Information for Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a nutrient-dense spread delivering around 25g of protein and 50g of fat per 100g, with approximately 625 kcal. From a SpikeSaver perspective, peanut butter is one of the best-performing common foods: it has a very low GI of approximately 14, meaning it causes virtually no blood sugar spike. The critical distinction is between whole-nut peanut butter (100% peanuts, NOVA 1) and standard peanut butter (NOVA 3-4, with added palm oil, sugar, and salt). Tesco's own-brand varieties contain roasted peanuts plus added sugar, palm oil, and salt — pushing them to NOVA 3.
Nutrition per 100g
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 630 kcal / 2608 kJ | 95 kcal |
| Protein | 25g | 3.8g |
| Carbohydrates | 14g | 2.1g |
| of which sugars | 6.2g | — |
| Fat | 51g | 7.7g |
| of which saturated | 7.2g | — |
| Fibre | 7g | — |
| Salt | 0.87g | — |
Serving size: 1 tablespoon (~15g) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
Glucose impact
Very Low
Glucose risk
Peanut butter has an exceptionally low glycaemic index of approximately 14, making it one of the lowest-GI common foods. The combination of high fat (51g/100g), high protein (25g/100g), and high fibre (7g/100g) means carbohydrates are digested and absorbed very slowly. A tablespoon serving contains only 2.1g of carbs. Peanut butter can actually help lower the GI of a meal — spreading it on toast, for example, significantly reduces the blood sugar spike compared to plain toast.
Processing level
Peanut butter ranges from NOVA 1 to NOVA 4 depending on the product. Whole-nut or '100% peanuts' varieties (such as Whole Earth or Pip & Nut) contain just peanuts — NOVA 1. Standard Tesco own-brand peanut butter contains roasted peanuts, sugar, palm oil, and salt — NOVA 3 (processed). Some branded varieties add emulsifiers, stabilisers, or hydrogenated oils, which push them to NOVA 4. The ingredient list is the key: if it says just 'peanuts', it is NOVA 1. If it lists palm oil, sugar, or stabilisers, it is NOVA 3-4.
Peanut Butter at Tesco
Source: Tesco product page, October 2025
3 UPF markers
3 UPF markers
3 UPF markers
2 UPF markers
*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.
What to watch for when shopping
The biggest watch-point is the gap between whole-nut peanut butter (NOVA 1, just peanuts) and standard varieties (NOVA 3, with palm oil, sugar, and salt). Tesco own-brand is the cheapest at £1.10/340g but contains added palm oil and sugar. Whole Earth (£3.00/320g) is NOVA 1 with no additives — nearly 3x the price per gram. The nutritional difference is modest (6g sugar vs 0g per 100g, slightly different fat profiles), but from a NOVA/processing perspective the gap is significant. All peanut butters, regardless of brand, have a very low GI (~14) and are excellent for blunting glucose spikes when paired with higher-GI foods like bread or toast.
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