The invention of peanut butter cannot be attributed to a single individual, as it evolved over time with contributions from several people:
- The earliest known form of peanut butter dates back to ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and Incas, who ground roasted peanuts into a paste
- The first patent related to peanut butter was granted to Canadian chemist Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884. He created a peanut paste by milling roasted peanuts between heated surfaces, producing a product with a consistency similar to butter or ointment, which he intended for use in candy
- In 1895, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented a process for making a peanut-based food product by boiling and grinding peanuts into a paste. He marketed it as a nutritious protein source for patients who had difficulty chewing
- Dr. Ambrose Straub, a Missouri physician, patented a peanut butter-making machine in 1903 and produced peanut paste for patients with dental issues
- In 1922, chemist Joseph L. Rosefield developed a method to make smooth peanut butter that prevented oil separation by using partially hydrogenated oil. This innovation led to the creamy peanut butter widely consumed today and brands like Skippy and Peter Pan
George Washington Carver, often mistakenly credited with inventing peanut butter, did not invent it but developed hundreds of other peanut-based products
. In summary, Marcellus Gilmore Edson is credited with the earliest patent for peanut paste in 1884, John Harvey Kellogg advanced the product in the 1890s, and Joseph Rosefield created the modern smooth peanut butter in the 1920s
