A major investigation by the Hong Kong Consumer Council (COC) into common peanut butter products has revealed widespread nutritional deficiencies and the presence of potential contaminants across two dozen brands, signaling serious health concerns for regular consumers. The evaluation, covering 20 samples of both crunchy and smooth peanut butter, found that 60% contained the carcinogenic substance aflatoxin, with two specific brands exceeding stringent European Union safety limits. Furthermore, researchers noted that nearly all—95%—of the sampled products qualified as high-fat foods.
Aflatoxin and Phthalates Detected in Most Tested Varieties
The inspection focused on identifying harmful substances, particularly aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), which are potent carcinogens primarily affecting the liver. Twelve of the 20 samples tested positive for this mold-derived toxin. Crucially, the You Wei Smooth Peanut Butter was found to contain Aflatoxin B1 at 2.01 micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg), slightly over the EU standard of 2.0 μg/kg. The Hsin Chu Fu Yuan Peanut Butter showed a significantly higher level of Aflatoxin B1 (4.27 μg/kg) and exceeded the EU’s total aflatoxin limit of 4.0 μg/kg with a measured quantity of 4.94 μg/kg. The COC emphasized that Aflatoxin B1 is classified as Group 1 human carcinogen, and excessive exposure can lead to acute liver damage, cirrhosis, and cancer.
In addition to fungal toxins, half of the samples (10 products) contained the plasticizer DEHP, an endocrine-disrupting chemical. While the detected levels (ranging from 0.12 mg/kg to 0.75 mg/kg for DEHP, with A1 House Brand Smooth Peanut Butter recording the highest) did not exceed action levels set by Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety or EU maximum limits, long-term, high-volume consumption of endocrine disruptors like DEHP are linked to developmental and reproductive issues in animal studies. Two samples also contained another phthalate, DINP, though within safety thresholds.
Alarming Fat and Sugar Content Raise Health Risks
Beyond contaminants, the report highlighted the poor nutritional profiles of the majority of products available on the market. Under Hong Kong’s classification, any food containing over 20 grams of total fat per 100 grams is considered high-fat. The average fat content across all 20 peanut butter samples was 45.7 grams per 100 grams, resulting in 19 out of 20 products being classified as high-fat. You Wei Smooth Peanut Butter led the high-fat category at 52.8 grams per 100 grams. Consumers are warned that habitually consuming large quantities of high-fat foods raises the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Conversely, sugar content varied considerably. The average sugar content was 9.89 grams per 100 grams. The product Topvalu Bestprice Peanut Cream was flagged as high-sugar, containing 28.2 grams per 100 grams. Consuming just 1.5 tablespoons (approximately 24g) of this product supplies 13.6% of an adult’s recommended daily sugar limit.
However, the assessment identified a few more nutritionally friendly options. Only three brands qualified as low-sugar (under 5 grams per 100g):
- Pic’s Peanut Butter Crunchy (4.0g)
- The Nutter Company Peanut Butter Crunchy (4.6g)
- WHOLE EARTH Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter (4.6g)
The low-fat outlier was also Topvalu Bestprice Peanut Cream (12.9g).
Consumer Recommendations and Top Performers
The COC urges consumers to read nutritional labels carefully, prioritize lower-fat and lower-sugar varieties, and consume peanut butter in moderation due to its high-caloric nature. Given the detection of aflatoxins, the Council is calling on manufacturers to improve quality control, particularly in raw material sourcing and storage, to minimize toxic mold contamination.
The COC’s highest-rated products (4.5 stars out of 5, factoring in nutritional balance, safety, and price) included:
- Mother Earth Natural Unsalted Smooth Peanut Butter (Approx. HK$14.5/100g)
- Pic’s Peanut Butter Crunchy (Approx. HK$19.7/100g)
- Sun-Pat Crunchy Peanut Butter (Approx. HK$9.5/100g)
This report underscores the ongoing necessity for meticulous regulatory oversight of imported and locally manufactured food products, ensuring that pantry staples meet international health standards and equipping consumers with the knowledge to make safer, healthier dietary choices.