The image of a jar of Nutella displaying its main ingredients has taken the internet by storm. The image has become viral due to its claim that palm oil is among the chief ingredients of Nutella, Yes, you heard it right! All of us knew beforehand that a jar of Nutella has an excessive amount of sugar mixed with some proportions of hazelnuts and cocoa powder. However, the presence of palm oil is something unexpected.
Here is the image that reveals what really goes into a jar of Nutella.
The image shows the layer by layer distribution of the ingredients of the most adored chocolate spread. It shows palm oil, skim milk powder, cocoa, hazelnuts, and sugar (in that order). According to many reports, the proportion of the ingredients showed in the image is true. And, unfortunately now we know that it’s more than 50% processed sugar in the spread we love to have in our breakfast.
How Nutella responds to the image
The image surfaced after the widely acclaimed report of removing Nutella from the global market due to its carcinogenic properties was published by the EFSA, i.e. European Food Safety Authority. The organization found that the palm oil used in Nutella is responsible for human cancer due to its carcinogenic properties. Nutella has accepted that they use palm oil in the spread, however, the oil used in Nutella is totally safe. They have claimed that they vet and check the palm oil for its required quality so that it can be edible without damaging the health of the users.
Nonetheless, Nutella has neither confirmed nor denied the credibility of the viral image showing the layering of the ingredients. But even if we follow the tabulation of the ingredients over the Nutella website or on the jar itself, we can see that there are 8.5 grams of white sugar in every 15 grams of the Nutella. It infers that every jar that is 400 grams contains 227.2 grams of white sugar, and it’s too huge a quantity of sugar to consume.
The problem with using palm oil
The problem with using palm oil in Nutella has not restricted only to its carcinogenic properties but various other factors too. The forestation of palm trees for the oil has caused a wide range of deforestation and displacements of human settlements. As palm oil is not only needed in the food industries but also in the cosmetics, it has a huge market. Despite this knowledge, the company uses palm oil for the production of Nutella. Also, the company has accepted that the alternative of palm oil could cost it an extra $8-22 million per year.
Above all, Ferrero, the manufacturer of Nutella has assured the public about the safe composition of the product. It has denied the charge of Nutella being a cancer-causing edible. Nevertheless, you should be well informed before you put something in your plate to eat. After all, eating healthy is the priority.