Claims About Harmful Additives in Nutella Are Misleading. 

Social media posts have raised concerns about several ingredients used in Nutella, claiming that additives such as soy lecithin, palm oil, synthetic vanilla (vanillin), and sugar are harmful to human health. Some posts suggest that consumers should avoid this. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Vanillin, soy lecithin and palm oil in Nutella are approved and safe ingredients. No serious health issues were noticed during multiple studies of these ingredients. 

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Fact Check- 

First, we checked the list of ingredients used in Nutella. We found that the product contains seven ingredients- hazelnuts, cocoa, palm oil, sugar, milk lecithin and vanilla. 

Nutella and Synthetic Vanilla: 

Like many other products, Nutella also contains synthetic vanilla, also known as Vanillin. According to a study, natural vanillin extracted from vanilla beans supplies only a very small share of global demand because it is expensive and produced in limited quantities. Therefore, most vanillin used in foods, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals is made synthetically from petroleum derived chemicals or from lignin (a natural component of wood) and through biotechnology using microorganisms. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), vanillin is an approved food ingredient and is primarily used as a flavoring agent. It is a permitted ingredient for adding vanilla flavor to foods and beverages. It is widely used in products such as baked goods, desserts, candies, and drinks. It is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under FDA regulations. 

According to a research journal, the amount of vanillin used in food and beverages is generally safe. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for vanillin has been established at 10 mg per kilogram of body weight per day by international authorities such as FAO/WHO and the European Union. For an adult weighing 70 kg, this would equal about 700 mg of vanillin per day, which is much higher than the amount most people consume from vanilla-flavored foods. On the contrary, synthetic vanillin and ethyl vanillin may cause allergic reactions and can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract in certain individuals. 

Soy Lecithin in Nutella:

Lecithin is a naturally occurring mixture of the phosphatides of choline, ethanolamine, and inositol, with smaller amounts of other lipids. It is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) under FDA regulation. According to this regulation, lecithin can be used in food with no limitations other than adhering to the current good manufacturing practices.

The EFSA re-evaluated lecithins (E 322) and concluded that they are safe for consumption. Further, it stated that the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) value is not required for lecithins, as exposure levels from food consumption do not pose a safety concern for the general population, including infants and young children. 

Palm Oil: 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had found that during high-temperature refining of palm oils two contaminants, 3-MCPD esters and glycidyl esters, can form. These substances are considered harmful to the kidney and have a potential link to cancer. The FDA is actively researching these contaminants to better understand their occurrence in foods and to develop methods for reducing their levels during oil processing.

Palm oil is approved for use in food. The FDA recommended the manufacturers to minimize the presence of these contaminants to ensure the safety of the consumers.

Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) has clarified that Palm oil is safe for people to consume when used within recommended amounts. According to many scientific studies, it does not cause heart disease or cancer. Palm Oil Council had also pointed out that it contains antioxidants like Vitamin E, and the concerns about processing contaminants like 3 MPCD are low and within international safety limits.

Sugar in Nutella: 

As per the information available on Nutella website, the company sources about 80% of its sugar from sugar beets and 20% from sugar cane. The sugar is purchased in crystallized form and regular quality checks and laboratory analysis are conducted to ensure that these sugar meets standards for purity and quality before being used in production. 

A 100gm pack of Nutella contains 57.5 grams of carbohydrates out of which 56.3 grams comes from sugar whereas a 15 gram pack contains 8.4 grams of sugar. 

According to the Healthline, the American Heart Association recommends that women and children should consume no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day, while men should limit their intake to 9 teaspoons (38 grams). Using this rule, a woman or child would be close to their added sugar limit for the entire day after consuming just 2 tablespoons (37 grams) of Nutella.

So, it is recommended to check the sugar consumption per day for a healthy life. 

Conclusion: 

The viral claim is misleading. Vanillin, soy lecithin, and palm oil in Nutella are approved and safe ingredients. No serious health issues were noticed during multiple studies of these ingredients.