Since 1951, Nutella, that delicious hazelnut cream, is the ideal dessert that satisfies every sweet craving that immediately releases a feeling of pleasure. Its creator, Pietro Ferrero, started his creamy version of the “super cream” as an alternative to the absence of chocolate due to the war. Since then, thanks to its incomparable flavor, it has traveled the world despite containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), also known as E621, GMO emulsifier lecithin from soy and palm oil, the extraction of which has aggravated the environment around the world.
Although the nutritional content indicates that it is a product free of artificial colors and artificial preservatives, each of the ingredients in Nutella, according to the specialized site preventdisease, has been part of the process that involves an artificial exercise, such as:
Soy lecithin (which, by the way, is just as artificial as the emulsifier/preservative) comes from the waste of a degumming process, continually being used as a solvent and pesticide to form solid plastics. It is a genetically modified product, which makes it a contaminating material that decreases fertility, alters immune functions and contaminates the environment. Consequently, it has toxic effects.
67% of the product is saturated fat and processed sugar (about 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, of which 3.5 is saturated and 21 is sugar).
The artificial flavor of vanillin (MSG), mistakenly confused with vanilla. With a vanilla flavor and aroma, this product is nothing more than a chemical composed of the molecular extract of the vanilla pod and petroleum. It contains MSG, so it is not a nutrient, vitamin or mineral and therefore does not provide any health benefits. It is 78% glutamate, 12% sodium and 10% . Consequently, it cannot be considered a natural product. And since it stimulates the reward system, this compound can be part of the development of neurological, endocrine and neurodegenerative disorders.
Palm oil in the oxidized state is extracted from the palm tree, and is usually used for processed foods. It is considered a blood cholesterol raiser, as well as a switch of both biochemical and psychological functions, and its extraction has caused the deforestation of 80% of the habitat of orangutans, as well as birds and other animals.
In conclusion, Nutella, despite its delicious flavor, is a product that is harmful to the health of both the consumer and the environment. So it is important to keep in mind that in addition to reducing consumption, there are also dessert alternatives such as, for example, homemade hazelnut cream.