Definition of the word peanut butter

The origin of the term "peanut butter" can be traced back to the late 19th century when peanuts were shelled and ground into a paste, primarily by African slaves in the Southern United States. The original name for this spread was simply "peanut paste," which referred to the consistency and composition of the product. In the early 1900s, the first patent for peanut butter was registered by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the cereal magnate. Kellogg's peanut butter recipe, however, was different from the modern-day variety as it included molasses and other ingredients, making it more similar to peanut cake than the spread we know today. It was not until the 1920s that the term "peanut butter" came into common use. It was coined by the advertising agency for the Peanut Alliance of America, which sought to promote peanut products as a healthy snack alternative. The term "butter" was chosen to convey the smooth, spreadable consistency of the product, as well as to evoke associations with traditional spreads like butter and jam. So, in short, "peanut butter" is a modern term that was coined to promote the consumption of peanut paste as a healthy and convenient food product.