Peanuts and peanut butter are popular in Canada. According to a 2026 survey of Canadian consumers, 93% eat peanuts and peanut butter, and 81% of households have peanut butter on-hand. The average Canadian eats nearly 3 kg of peanuts per year!
Canada is the second largest single-country importer of U.S. peanuts. More than 85% of the peanuts consumed in Canada are obtained from a choice of 7,000 growers from the United States.
The Canadian climate isn't very conducive to growing peanuts, which require sandy soil and hot dry weather. The total amount of peanuts farmed in Canada may be as small as a couple hundred tonnes – compared to shipments of all U.S. peanut products to Canada at 137,916 metric tonnes in 2025.
2025 Canadian Peanut Consumption Data
Erickson Research, February 2026
- Overall peanut consumption in Canadian households stayed consistent at 93% in 2025
- Overall peanut butter consumption remains high year-over-year, at 93%
- Nearly all Canadian households consume peanuts:
- 93% of households eat peanuts at least every few months
- 37% eat peanuts at least once per week
- 52% of households have peanuts on-hand
- Nearly all Canadian households consume peanut butter:
- 93% of households consume peanut butter at least every few months
- 56% eat peanut butter at least once per week
- 16% eat peanut butter daily
- 81% of households have peanut butter on-hand
- 73% say peanut butter is a staple in their pantry
- 90% of Canadian kids eat peanut butter, and 61% eat it at least weekly
- Of those Canadians who eat peanuts, 17% consume them in the morning, 65% in the afternoon, 15% at dinner and 43% in the evening
- 18- to 34-year-olds are more likely than other age groups to eat peanuts in the morning (23%), in the afternoon (68%) and at dinner (19%)
- Snacking on peanuts in the late evening is most common amongst those 55 and older (53%), compared to 35- to 54-year-olds (39%) and 18- to 34-year-olds (33%)
- The preferred time to eat peanut butter is at breakfast (63%), followed by snacks (37%), lunch (36%) and dinner (14%)
- 18- to 34-year-olds are the most likely age group to eat peanut butter at breakfast (66%), compared to 62% of 35- to 54-year-olds and those 55 and older
- 18- to 34-year-olds are more likely than other age groups to eat peanut butter at lunch (38%) and dinner (16%)
- Snacking on peanut butter is almost equally common amongst all age groups: 38% of those 55 and older, 37% of 18- to 34-year-olds and 35% of 35- to 54-year-olds
- Residents of Quebec more frequently consume both peanuts and peanut butter than the rest of Canada:
- 64% eat peanuts at least once per month, compared to 60% of the rest of Canada77% eat peanut butter at least once per month, compared to 76% of the rest of Canada
- Eating peanut butter at breakfast is the most popular in Quebec (73%), compared to the rest of Canada (60%)
- 68% of Canadians usually eat peanut butter spread on bread, toast or baked snacks (including crackers, bagels, English muffins, etc.), making it the most preferred consumption method
- Over a quarter of Canadians (26%) say they consume peanut butter on its own, right out of the jar
- Nearly half of Canadians (47%) say peanuts are a comfort food for them
- 58% of Canadians regularly snack on peanuts. This makes them the most preferred snack food after fruits and vegetables (68%), chips (67%) and cheese (62%)
- 59% of Canadians consider peanuts to be one of their go-to snacks, and 13% of Canadians prefer peanuts over all other snacks
- When snacking, 65% of Canadians usually eat peanuts salted, and 52% eat peanuts in mixed nut snacks, making these the most preferred formats
- Smooth peanut butter is purchased by 68% of Canadians, making it the most popular variety, followed by crunchy (40%) and natural (29%)
- Canadians think peanuts (85%) and peanut butter (83%) are good snacks
- Canadians think peanuts (69%) and peanut butter (74%) are good ingredients for cooking and/or baking
- 39% regularly use peanut butter as an ingredient in cooking and/or baking
- 24% regularly use peanuts in their meals
- Canadians think peanuts (79%) and peanut butter (77%) are healthy/nutritious
- 76% think peanuts satisfy hunger and 74% think they provide a quick energy boost
- 78% think peanut butter satisfies hunger and 74% think it provides a quick energy boost
- 83% say that healthfulness is at least moderately important to them when choosing snacks
- 40% of Canadians are aware of updated early introduction guidance from paediatric authorities to help prevent peanut allergy (up 2-3% each year since 2021)
- Among Canadians with children, more than half (51%) are aware of early introduction guidance (up 13% since 2021)
- 47% of Canadians believe that introducing and regularly feeding common food allergens, like peanut protein, to babies by around 6 months of age, but not before 4 months, can help prevent food allergy (up from 44% in 2024)
- The number of Canadians who believe there is no way to prevent food allergy decreased to 24% from 26% in 2024
- 3 in 4 Canadians (76%) believe that peanuts offer good value
- Half of Canadians (50%) will switch from purchasing their usual peanut butter brand when there is a sale or promotion on another brand
- 36% of Canadians say that promotions or discounts would be the primary motivator for them to eat more peanuts and/or peanut butter
- Sustainability matters to Canadians when making food purchase decisions:
- 48% say it’s very important to them that food is sustainably produced (up from 42% in 2024)
- 41% say they are very interested in having a way to learn about a company’s/farmer’s commitment to sustainability (up from 39% in 2024)
- 40% say they buy food that is sustainably produced as much as possible (up from 38% in 2024)
Marcellus Gilmore Edson, a chemist and pharmacist from Montreal, was the first person to patent modern peanut butter for peanut candy. Issued in 1884 by the United States government, the patent was based on the preparation of a peanut paste, an early version of the modern product we know as peanut butter.
