I like PB and eat quite a bit - the natural kind that one has to stir for quite a while to get the oil mixed with the good stuff.
I don't eat Jif and am not certain that it is peanut butter. But, it lasts. In 2000 I bought two jars of Jif - one for each garage - handy bait for rodent traps. It works well.
When we relocated, I brought both of those jars down here - one for each garage. Still use that Jif as bait - looks and smells same as it did 22 years ago. What is in that stuff?
CCCC:
Good morning to you sir, I trust that you and yours are doing well and you're getting the weather you all need.
Please note that this is a guess on my part, so that said here's what I know about that - as they say.
As my personal tastes in peanut butter changed throughout life, that is to say going to more all peanut types, I noticed that in my role as "rodent killer and trapper/shop and life trouble shooter" that my usual go to for mouse traps worked less well. For clarification, ever since I was quite young, it was my chore to deal with unwanted rodents and general yard pests. I'm told and read in the Good Book that we're all given some gifts in life and one of mine apparently is a proficiency at removing unwanted and problem pests.
When I found that the mice didn't take to the 100% peanut butter which again is my "go to" bait of choice, I began to read the label on the other brands and in most cases the second ingredient listed was sugar.
The light went on - even for a Canuck redneck it is possible from time to time for that to happen - contrary to popular belief.
Sugar doesn't really deteriorate quickly, well if at all in some cases and it's my guess that the amount of sugar in the 22 year old Jiff is sufficient to keep it that way.
Nowadays when I'm baiting the trapline in the garage for mice, the bait of choice is whatever 100% peanut butter I've got open mixed with powdered sugar with about a 2:1 ratio of sugar to peanut butter.
Since you're a fellow rodent trapper, I'll add that I always tune the release with the bait loaded onto the trip pad so it'll let go with the first rodential samplings of my sugary confection...
Did I happen to mention I hate most rodents, but especially mice and rats? Hate is of course a strong word and I use it deliberately here.
Hope that was useful for you or someone out there. Hopefully also the peanut butter shortage for those who are experiencing it is the worst thing they encounter.
All the best and God Bless.
Dwayne