I.M. HEALTHY
This Illinois-based soy butter is big in nut-free schools on both sides of the border. It’s got more varieties than Canadian WowButter (including unsweetened and honey-sweetened versions), and the soy isn’t genetically modified. However, it’s not organic. (The U.S. Geological Survey says “most” American soy seeds are pre-treated with neonic pesticides, which scientists have blamed for bee deaths.) Not crazy about the palm oil, tied to serious habitat destruction in Southeast Asia either, but the company says it’s sourced sustainably via the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (although enviros accuse the RSPO of going too easy on rule breakers).
SCORE: NN
WOWBUTTER
At the fore of the nut-free lunchroom movement, Wowbutter knows how to keep allergy-conscious peeps smiling – except for those allergic or just plain averse to soy. Still, as far as conventional soy goes, these guys are as conscious as it gets. Their farm-to-table business grows most of the crop on their family farm or surrounding farms near Stratford, Ontario, and processes it on the premises. They’re non-GMO verified and integrate some sustainable farming practices. However, they’re not organic and use herbicides on fields. The company says it avoids neonic-treated seeds. Its vegetable oil monoglyceride is palm-derived, from the rspo (see I.M.Healthy). Packed in pet plastic.
SCORE: NNN
MARANATHA SUNFLOWER BUTTER
One of America’s largest nut butter makers (now owned by Hain Celestial), MaraNatha does offer up a nut-free option – this sunflower butter made with nothing but roasted sunflower seeds and sea salt. Too bad there’s no organic version, but at least sunflowers don’t come genetically modified. The company didn’t share where its sunflowers are grown. Not from a nut-free facility. Packed in glass. Heads up: several MaraNatha peanut and almond butters have been recalled due to possible salmonella contamination. See fda.gov.
SCORE: NNN
NUTS TO YOU/NEW WORLD ORGANIC SEED BUTTER
These brands are popular thanks to their filler-free organic and natural (conventional) spreads, all roasted and packed in glass in Canada. Neither come from nut-free facilities, but if you’re packing a nut-free lunch, their pumpkin seed (rich in zinc and omega 6) and sunflower seed butters (a good source of magnesium, zinc and iron) are delish. Keep in mind that only Nuts to You’s conventional sunflower seeds and New World’s hemp seeds are grown in canada. all their pumpkin and certified organic sunflower seeds come from china, so they lose a point.
SCORE: NNNN
SUN BUTTER ORGANIC
This North Dakota company actually makes nothing but sunflower butter. You can avoid pesticide concerns as well as cheap oils and preservatives (like soy-derived tocopherols) if you stick to its certified organic, no-sugar-added butter. Just avoid the “no-stir” version, since conventional palm oil’s been added to prevent separation. Those uncomfortable with produce grown in China will like that both the company’s conventional and organic seeds come from the Midwestern U.S. From a totally nut-free facility. Too bad it doesn’t come in glass.
SCORE: NNNN
