Peanut Butter Concerns

[Artichoke47]

From my "Lower Calorie Peanut Butter" thread and from reading other posts, I can tell that many people (including me) find peanut butter easy to binge on. I have some good news!

You know how that jar tells you that there's "about 14" 2-Tablespoon servings per container? Well, there's not. There's about 6-7 servings. I measured a jar myself with perfectly flat (not rounded) tablespoons. I got 6 servings. Some jars are probably slightly larger and contain 7 servings.

Are the companies thinking of 1 tablespoon instead of 2? I have no clue, but measure a jar for yourself. You'll see!! :up:

[CharityAJO]

You know what... I noticed my cereal this morning... The box said it had six one-cup servings. I swear I poured out two cups and the thing is 2/3 gone. Same deal - the box claims to have double the servings inside.

Do you think they're trying to cheat us? ;)

[Artichoke47]

Not the ones calorie-conscious enough to measure, huh?

What do we do now? File a lawsuit? :lol:

[Artichoke47]

I think the important matter here is that some people would binge on half a jar or a whole jar of peanut butter and feel bad about themselves, thinking they consumed 14 servings (or 7 for half the jar).

When using actual measurements for a serving, that is not so.

[CharityAJO]

So, thank you to corporate a*holes, now we can binge with less guilt? God bless cheap manufacturers?

[SallyK]

Wow, I might have to measure this out just to make sure! I suddenly feel better (except I am still PMSing).

[kpickell]

I don't think a company could legally say there are 14 servings when there are only 7. This all conjecture but I'm guessing that peanut butter is not an easy substance to measure and that when you scoop out a spoon full you are compressing the peanut butter into a tighter form than it would be in it's natural state. Bottom line, if you eat a whole jar of peanut butter and it says a jar contains 14 servings, then you just ate 14 servings.

[Artichoke47]

I didn't compress anything when I measured. I simple scooped the peanut butter in the tablespoon, still in its light and fluffy state. :)

Besides, "about 14" is VERY open to interpretation.

In summary, I know I measured correctly, and peanut butter doesn't settle or become less dense.

[kpickell]

The serving size should also be given in grams which would be a more accurate way of measuring. On the jar that I have it says one serving is 32g. And on the jar it says there are 510 grams total net weight. It says there are about 16 servings, but if you do the math it comes to 15.9375 servings.

[Artichoke47]

But did you measure out 15.9375 32-gram servings on a dietary scale to make sure that those numbers are correct?

[kpickell]

No. But if you have a scale it would be easier to measure the whole product, sans jar, and devide the weight by the number of grams in a serving to get an accurate representation of the number of servings. If you find that the result is very low (more than 2 servings off) then I would be interested in hearing about that and writing to the company.

[Artichoke47]

I would first like to see how much two tablespoons weighs, but I don't have time for that right now. Maybe this weekend!

[Artichoke47]

So I weighed two tablespoons of the peanut butter I have. One serving, which is stated to be two tablespoons, was 40 grams. On the container, it says that one serving is 32 grams. This means that there is an inconsistency present, and the labeling is inaccurate. Either they should change two tablespoons to "About two tablespoons" or "One-and-a-half tablespoons," or change the weight to 40 grams.

I see your point that weight is more accurate; however, that does not change the fact that the company represented that two tablespoons was the serving size. One false representation, if it is such, isn't remedied by the presence of a weight measurement.

Besides, people are more likely to measure in tablespoons than weight, if they measure at all. My guess is that most people don't measure. I only do so to keep track of my calorie intake.

[orangutan]

maybe you're just using a humongous spoon.

[Artichoke47]

Or maybe I know what a tablespoon is, and I'm 100% sure they don't come in different sizes. Thanks, though.

[scareyvegan]

because of its intensely sticky nature, i highly doubt that you accurately measured the peanut butter

chances are, it wasnt 100% level in your tablespoon

also, tablespoons can vary... we are talking about cooking equipment, not scientific equipment. just as measuring cups can be off

how do you know that your 'tablespoon' is really a tablespoon?

[Lenore]

How about we all just eat our peanut butter and enjoy it, dagnabbit.

My guess is that most bingers feel bad after binging less because of the specific calorie/serving count of what they ate, but rather because of the feeling of having no control.

[Azalea]

How about we all just eat our peanut butter and enjoy it, dagnabbit.
.

amen to that :up:

[Artichoke47]

because of its intensely sticky nature, i highly doubt that you accurately measured the peanut butter

chances are, it wasnt 100% level in your tablespoon

also, tablespoons can vary... we are talking about cooking equipment, not scientific equipment. just as measuring cups can be off

how do you know that your 'tablespoon' is really a tablespoon?

Who are you to question me and how I measure something? Do you think I'm making things up when I already stated that I measured a level tablespoon?

I know my tablespoon is really a tablespoon because it says "1 tablespoon" right on the spoon.

Does anyone else want to take a shot? :brood:

[Artichoke47]

By the way, I do have three tablespoons (which are measuring spoons, for those of you that don't seem to realize this), and each one is the same size.

It must be the conspiracy of the tablespoon makers, where multiple companies make huge spoons so that we Americans can supersize our baking soda proportions. *rolls eyes*

[orangutan]

there's no other answer then. the company has failed to use the objective tablespoon and must be punished. i'd suggest suing them... or firebombing. whatever works. this is certainly an outrage.

[Artichoke47]

Just remember who did the measuring and who is speculating about some inaccuracy here, folks.

[orangutan]

Just remember who did the measuring and who is speculating about some inaccuracy here, folks.

hmm... ok. you used a real tablespoon. that's fine. i'm just amazed that this is really what people put time and effort into.

[MollyGoat]

Well, I think it's interesting. Thanks for sharing, Artichoke...I'm happy for the information.

[orangutan]

you're right. sorry about that comment. i guess that i just didnt really appreciate your "i'm better than you because i post more" attitude. no hard feelings.