Peter Pan "Smart Choice" reduced-fat peanut butter claims to have 25 percent less fat than regular peanut butter. The creamy or chunky flavors come in an 18-ounce bottle that retails for $2.09.
Don Russell (married, five children at home, ages 14-4): "As one would expect from this kind of product, our chunky peanut butter was sweet, nutty, pleasant-tasting and a little on the dry side. It's not real easy to discern that this is a low-fat food; however, one must remember that it is less fat, not less calories. This Peter Pan still has 95 calories per tablespoon, the same amount of calories that two other brands of regular peanut butter contained that were in our kitchen."Edyth Jensen (married, three children and two grandchildren at home): "We had the creamy peanut butter and it is anything but creamy smooth. The flavor is still there, but so is the grit. Instead of putting `creamy' on the label they'll have to put `gritty.' My kids won't eat it."
Nihla Lake (married, two children at home): "Whoops! When they took out 25 percent of the fat, 75 percent of the flavor was also removed. We tried the chunky variety and compared to our old favorite brand it didn't even smell like peanut butter, probably doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth properly, either.
"For the sake of good nutrition, we'll probably finish the bottle, and maybe try another brand of lower-fat next time."
Linda C. Tingey (single mother, four teenage boys at home): "You can have it! - too dry, too gritty, too sweet. This Peter Pan low-fat doesn't even taste like peanuts! I'll stick with good old Western Family."
Rich Firmage (married, three children, oldest 8 years old): "I have always loved peanut butter. Peanut butter and honey on saltines is one of my favorite snacks. With many peanut butters you have to mix in the extra oil that has pooled on top. But not with this one - it is very dry. In fact, it was almost crumbly. But it tasted just the same.
"If I have a choice these days I usually go with things with less fat, so I will probably buy this again. I tried both creamy and chunky and liked them both."
Bill Allred (single): "Like many reduced fat products, this one is too sweet. In order to make up for that wonderful taste and texture that fat provides, the makers of this peanut butter have tried to distract us by putting corn syrup in it. It just doesn't taste right. I had some on my crackers and I wasn't happy with the flavor at all. I'll take my peanut butter with all the fat and oil it naturally comes with, thanks. Some things are better left alone."
Conclusion: Great idea, but low-fat seems to mean no-taste. This peanut butter was "Panned" for gritty, dry texture and too much sweetner.