Nutella's Labels Make It Seem More Healthy Than It Is

It probably comes as no surprise to hear that Nutella, the chocolate and hazelnut spread that tastes more like frosting, chocolate sauce and all those things that aren’t exactly healthy, is not good for you. The labels on Nutella suggest that it contains high percentages of vitamins and minerals (40 and 78 percent) but a low percentage of fats and carbohydrates (7 and 3 percent). But German consumer advocates point out that the fat and carbohydrate content on Nutella’s labels is based on a 15-gram portion, while the vitamin and mineral content is based on a 100-gram portion.

In other words, to get the nutrition benefits of Nutella proclaimed on the label, you would have to eat a quarter of a jar of Nutella.

A German court in Frankfurt has ruled that Ferrero, which manufactures Nutella, must change the label or incur a fine of 250,000 euros per transgression. The labels for fats and carbohydrates are printed in a different color than those for vitamins and minerals but, as consumer advocates point out, people would “not generally have the time while shopping to realize the difference between the measures referred — creating a relevant deceit.”

Ferraro Deutschland argued (not surprisingly) that it feels the current labels are sufficiently clear and plans to appeal the court’s decision. The company also said that it will change the labels at the end of the year.

Other Ferraro products have come under fire by consumer advocate groups for containing misleading nutritional information:

Ferrero’s KinderRiegel little chocolate bars are sold with the slogan, “Extra portion of milk with much good calcium” – but consumer protection group Foodwatch has calculated that a child would have to eat 13 of the bars to get a daily requirement of calcium. This would also involve consuming the equivalent of 48 cubes of sugar and half a packet of butter, the group claimed.

The popular Milch-Schnitte bars, also made by Ferrero have too come under fire from Foodwatch, which has described them as “calorie bombs.”

Germany’s Ministry of Consumer Protection is starting a new website, www.lebensmittelklarheit.de — the name translates to something like “food transparency” — through which consumers can submit the names of foods that they find misleading.

In addition, consumer advocates have critiqued Ferraro for its sponsorship of sporting events and its use of athletes (including Germany’s national soccer team) in its advertising as doing so creates a link between “fundamentally unhealthy products” and sports and health.

Nutella definitely tastes good. But so does a candy bar — and consumers need to be aware that there’s not much of a difference between the two.

Related Care2 Coverage

Is Cheap Chocolate Frosting Healthier Than Nutella?

Taking Nutella to Court Over Nutritional Claims

Do You Know What You’re Eating? FDA Should Label GE Foods

"The healthy spread": Photo by Markusraum

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Carole R.

8:07PM PST on Dec 2, 2011

I have not tried this. A chocolate sandwich sounds awful to me.

send a green star

Pamela H.

12:00AM PST on Nov 27, 2011

Also extremely high in sugar.

Vicky P.

12:41PM PST on Nov 26, 2011

somehow I doubt that woman got fat from nutella.

Lauryn S.

11:45PM PST on Nov 25, 2011

This is what they're worried about? Sure, labels shouldn't be allowed to state different counts for different portions, but if anyone thought they were relying on Nutella for their daily vitamins and minerals, that's their fault. And the chocolate bar label about calcium in NO WAY claims that you should be relying on it as your daily source of calcium! Again, anyone who would assume such a thing is not making any reasonable conclusion at all. I'm surprised at the comments like Sam T's, who states that she buys it as a "junk food" anyway, which it is, so how does this non-news change anything? It doesn't!

KS G.

1:14AM PST on Nov 25, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Margaret J.

12:19AM PST on Nov 25, 2011

I have loved Nutella since I was a little girl, but had to treat it like anything else: moderation is the key. Well, that and actually reading everything on the label.

Sam T.

11:14PM PST on Nov 23, 2011

Wow, I like to make Nutella cookies instead of using peanut-butter. So yummy, but not as good for you as I thought. I have to admit I did not really read the label since I only buy it a couple times a year and I buy it as a junk food.
Thanks so much!!!

MayaviItzeen E.

9:36PM PST on Nov 23, 2011

OMG! :O... but thanks! :)

Karen T.

8:05PM PST on Nov 23, 2011

thnks

Leslie G.

7:58PM PST on Nov 23, 2011

ilovekevinnutelleiton