Nutella® contains palm oil because it is the best option to ensure that the product has the right texture and structure, and because it does not interfere with the characteristic taste of the other ingredients. Most importantly, it does not go through the hydrogenation process, which produces "trans fats" that have been recognised by the authorities and the scientific world as particularly harmful to health. Many other oils would need to be submitted to hydrogenation to create the consistency necessary for our recipe.
According to the EFSA's recent recommendations, some thermal contaminants (2MCPD, 3MCPD, GE) are present in a wide range of foods and found in larger quantities in vegetable oils subjected to high temperatures during food processing. These contaminants are formed significantly when the oil reaches a temperature of over 200°C. The EFSA has recognised that the industry has begun to optimise the processes through lower temperatures and the results are promising, however it hopes to achieve more. Consequently, the oils and fats have significantly lower levels of contaminants than the standard ones available on the market. This enables the creation of products with minimal levels of contaminants that are completely in line with the parameter defined by EFSA.
EFSA has neither mentioned Nutella® in its recommendations, nor has it ever recommended to stop eating palm oil.
Yes, Nutella® is completely safe to eat. The health and well-being of consumers is an absolute priority for Ferrero.
No. The vegetable oil contained in Nutella® is palm oil, which is naturally extracted from the palm fruit and gives our spread its creamy texture. For this reason, the product does not have to undergo a hydrogenation process responsible for the formation of trans fats, which are considered particularly unhealthy by both authorities and the scientific community.
Contrary to some views it is not correct to state that palm oil is detrimental to human health. Ferrero has always paid great attention to both the quality of its products and its raw materials. Palm oil is used essentially for its natural origin, its structure is ideal for confectionery products and spreads, making the usage of hydrogenated fats unnecessary. Palm oil has been used in human nutrition for thousands of years. Many scientific studies corroborate the neutrality of palm oil effects on a metabolism within a balanced diet.
The Ferrero Palm Oil Charter reflects our decision to strengthen our commitment for sustainable palm oil. It consists of a set of guidelines aiming to eradicate the main causes of deforestation, as well as creating a balance between environmental and social issues on one hand, and profitability on the other. The 10 goals established by Ferrero in the Palm Oil Charter can be summarised as follows:
Supply-chain traceability
Not clearing High Carbon Stock forests
Not using fire to clear land
Not planting on peat soils
Protection of endangered species
Monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions
Human rights enforcement, including FPIC – Free Prior Informed Consent
Enforcement of the rights of workers
No usage of Paraquat (herbicide)
Active fight against corruption
Cocoa
The cocoa used in Nutella® originates mainly from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Ferrero processes the raw cocoa beans to produce cocoa powder directly in its factories.
All the cocoa we buy for Nutella® comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms so that we can help improve the livelihoods of farmers and their families and conserve natural resources and biodiversity. Moreover all of our cocoa farmers are GPS mapped, allowing the full traceability of our supply-chain at the farm group level, meaning that we can monitor illegal deforestation and ensure we are not buying any cocoa beans from protected areas. Ferrero is also a founding member of the Cocoa and Forest Initiative (CFI), a collaboration between industry and the governments of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to end deforestation and restore forest areas.
In line with its Business Conduct Code, Ferrero confirms its firm intention of contributing to the eradication of child labour, particularly of its most detrimental forms, as well as of all types of slavery, forced and penal labour. Ferrero's Business Conduct Code is based on the ILO Convention 138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment, as well as on the ILO Convention 182 regarding the worst forms of child labour. Ferrero ensures that its suppliers comply with the principles of the above-mentioned Code.
Hazelnuts
Nutella®'s hazelnuts originate mostly from Turkey, Italy, Chile and the USA. The harvest takes place between the beginning of August and the end of September. To ensure the availability of quality and fresh hazelnuts, cultivation is also taking place in countries from the Southern Hemisphere, representing an additional harvest from February to March.
The Nutella® recipe contains 13% of hazelnuts, it means that, as an example, a Nutella® jar of 750g contains approximately 97 hazelnuts.
Milk
Yes, Nutella® contains skimmed milk powder, the quality of which mostly depends on the quality of the fresh milk it originates from. The milk in Nutella® is supplied only by selected and reliable milk producers obtained from quality long-term relationships.
As with other chocolate and confectionery products, the usage of milk powder in Nutella® is based on technological purposes. Since our recipe is anhydrous, it requires the use of milk powder that will contribute to give it its creamy texture.
