When it comes to buying peanut butter, most of us are reading the label to look for one thing — creamy or crunchy. Whether you opt for peanut butter that is perfectly smooth or with crushed peanut pieces for extra texture is a matter of personal preference, but when it comes to your personal health and the health of the planet, there is something else you should be checking for on the label of your peanut butter jar: palm oil.

You may be wondering why palm oil is added to peanut butter in the first place. The answer is that palm oil acts as a stabilizer to prevent the natural separation process that causes oil to rise to the top of your peanut butter jar. This is easily (if sometimes messily) resolved by simply stirring your peanut butter before spreading it. You can also store natural peanut butter upside down for less separation. You should also put it into the refrigerator after opening to help stop separation, but also to keep it fresh as it doesn't have preservatives. Taking these small steps can make it easier to opt for a palm oil-free peanut butter.