Peanuh Bahtah - Not Your 'Silly Rabbit'
I got into a debate about whether peanut butter was a kids-only food. My supervisor thinks it's only for kids (especially when he purposely pronounces it "peanuh bahtah"), but the age bias may be how it is for him or how it is in Japan. Actually it sounds as though he dissuades consumption out of fear of becoming allergic to peanuts. In the U.S., peanut butter is part of growing up for many Americans and, apart from allergies, it is well liked across all ages. Earliest records of the creamed form of peanuts is in Africa or China so it's not an isolated phenomenon.
Apart from bread spread, it is used in ice cream, pies, cakes, cookies, muffins, fudge, candy bars, condiments (celery, crackers); and cultural dishes such as various Thai dishes (like satay), Chinese cold noodle dishes, dim sum, Indian Penang sauce.