# Nutella - most deceptive product on the shelf? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285 "2013-02-24T21:19:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/41 "2013-02-24T23:19:13Z")
NitroPress, you left the winky off of my quote. šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/42 "2013-02-24T23:22:17Z")
Hereā€™s a link for the requirements: [CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21](http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=164.150&SearchTerm=peanut%20butter) It appears that peanut butter can contain up to 10% of regulated other ingredients. I have not found the FDA standards for items labeled as hazelnut butter, almond butter or cashew butter, but a WAG would say that they are similar to those of peanut butter. While Nutella doesnā€™t advertise itself as hazelnut butter, it certainly hints (and strongly) that it is similar in nutritional content. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/43 "2013-02-24T23:28:11Z")
Not really. I always thought their commercials were similar to Bryarsā€™ ā€œOnly milk, cream, sugar and vanilla.ā€ Itā€™s all natural, not super healthy. Iā€™ve seen nothing comparing Nutella to peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/44 "2013-02-24T23:33:44Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > NitroPress, you left the winky off of my quote. šŸ˜‰ Weā€™re sorry to hear about your winky. Have you tried unplugging it, and plugging it back in? Weā€™ll wait while you try. (Editing error, sry.) ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/45 "2013-02-24T23:35:02Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > I see we have the usual number of folks with relatively few summers under their hat defending something they see as normal. The world didnā€™t used to be 90% shit, kids, and accepting it as normal doesnā€™t make it right. Nutella is NOT shit, it is goddamn delicious. And itā€™s been around forever; Iā€™ve been eating it at least 20 years, and I live in Bumfuck, so I know the big cities have had it. If you havenā€™t noticed it, you arenā€™t paying attention. I donā€™t know a single person who thinks its even remotely healthy. Even when I was little it was a special snack for sometimes, and we got a tiny bit spread on toast. A jar would last over a year. Itā€™s candy. So is Reeses Puffs cereal (for example). But occasionally indulging in candy is alright. I keep a jar on the top shelf of my pantry, and if my kids are good or Iā€™m feeling extra nice, they get a little. My kids are crazy healthy, for the record. Nutella is wonderful, and in moderate amounts wonā€™t hurt anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/46 "2013-02-24T23:37:24Z")
> [@missred](#): > > While Nutella doesnā€™t advertise itself as hazelnut butter, it certainly hints (and strongly) that it is similar in nutritional content. The label identifies it as ā€œHazelnut spread with skim milk and cocoa.ā€ Iā€™m quite sure that ā€œspreadā€ is one of those undefined FDA non-words that allows the product to contain anything, but ā€œHazelnut spreadā€ certainly implies that itā€™s something other than 18 percent (minus) ground hazelnut and 80 percent (plus) added fat and sugar. And LOOK! It has MILK in it! And COCOA, which we all know is better than that nasty chocolate. Especially when peanut butter, as you point out, has to be 90% ground peanuts to call itself that. No, thereā€™s no deception here. Move along. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/47 "2013-02-24T23:45:52Z")
I see nothing on [this page](http://www.nutellausa.com/family.htm) comparing it to candy or dessert. [This page](http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm) boasts that it contains roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and just a _hint_ of cocoaā€¦but not a word about the two primary ingredients that proceed them(sugar and oil.) I also notice that most of the pictures of Nutella has it sharing the picture with fresh fruits and fruit juice. Nope-no implying nutritional value _here_. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/48 "2013-02-24T23:48:26Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > The label identifies it as ā€œHazelnut spread with skim milk and cocoa.ā€ > > Iā€™m quite sure that ā€œspreadā€ is one of those undefined FDA non-words that allows the product to contain anything, but ā€œHazelnut spreadā€ certainly implies that itā€™s something other than 18 percent (minus) ground hazelnut and 80 percent (plus) added fat and sugar. And LOOK! It has MILK in it! And COCOA, which we all know is better than that nasty chocolate. > > Especially when peanut butter, as you point out, has to be 90% ground peanuts to call itself that. No, thereā€™s no deception here. Move along. On my jar, it has a large tag disclosing the amount of sugar, calories and saturated fat that is larger than the footnote about hazelnuts. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/49 "2013-02-24T23:51:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I see nothing on [this page](http://www.nutellausa.com/family.htm) comparing it to candy or dessert. [This page](http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm) boasts that it contains roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and just a _hint_ of cocoaā€¦but not a word about the two primary ingredients that proceed them(sugar and oil.) I also notice that most of the pictures of Nutella has it sharing the picture with fresh fruits and fruit juice. > Nope-no implying nutritional value _here_. Again, next to the picture of fruit and milk, it plainly says ā€œTurn a balanced breakfast into a tasty one. Spread Nutella on multigrain breadā€¦ā€ In other words, ā€œWe make healthy stuff taste good.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/50 "2013-02-24T23:51:36Z")
Advertising deceptive? Get the hell out of here! I guess if you use the Cheerios commercial set and keep the kids off skateboards everyone falls for it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/51 "2013-02-24T23:53:25Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Iā€™m not seeing a problem. I donā€™t see anything there marketing it as healthy. > > Itā€™s a chocolate spread and youā€™re shocked that itā€™s high in sugar? Itā€™s called ā€œhazelnut spreadā€ [on the Nutella site](http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm): > [@](#): > > NutellaĀ® hazelnut spread was first imported from Italy to the U.S. over 25 years ago by Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. The popularity of NutellaĀ® has grown steadily over the years and it is the number one selling branded hazelnut spread in America. > > The unique taste of NutellaĀ® hazelnut spread continues to come from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. In addition, NutellaĀ® has no artificial colors or preservatives. I think itā€™s fair to say that presenting it as a breakfast food (accompanied in the photo by a slice of wholewheat toast, a glass of milk, a glass of OJ, a pear, an orange and a strawberry) while never mentioning the presence of sugar or palm oil, much less the fact that theyā€™re the primary ingredients, counts as somewhat deliberately misleading. What I think is most interesting, though, is the fact that you can find [real chocolate hazelnut butter, containing nothing but hazelnuts, sweetened chocolate, and sea salt, in that order](http://www.tierrafarm.com/chocolatehazelnutbutter-2.aspx) (and with organic ingredients to boot), for $13.30 per 1-pound jar, or about 83 cents per ounce. Meanwhile, ā€œhazelnut spreadā€ SugarOilSludgella markets for about 28 to 36 cents per ounce, or more than one-third the price of the real chocolate-hazelnut butter. When you consider that, as **Nitro-Press** noted, actual hazelnuts make up at most about one-sixth of the content of SugarOilSludgella, you gotta admit theyā€™ve got some major marketing chutzpah to charge for it what they do. Theyā€™re selling canned-cake-frosting nutrition at low-end-nut-butter prices. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/52 "2013-02-24T23:58:23Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Nutella? Really? Itā€™s chocolate spread! Hazelnut flavored, sure, but no one would confuse it with peanut butter. Itā€™s extremely sweet and has the consistency of lard. The advertising may be deceptive, but Iā€™ve never seen any ads. I donā€™t see anyone actually tasting the stuff, or even seeing it, and thinking itā€™s healthy. Iā€™m with you on this one. Iā€™ve never seen an ad for it, but Iā€™ve always assumed it was on the same nutritional level as marshmallow fluff or Hersheyā€™s syrup. I like the stuff, itā€™s fine, great for dessert crepes but, come on. Itā€™s Nutella. Anyone whoā€™s had one spoon of it couldnā€™t possibly think itā€™s healthy, could they? And, yeah, as mentioned beforeā€¦granola bars? Orange juice? The typical brands are also not exactly the best examples of ā€œhealthyā€ food, either. Granola bars, for the most part, are just adult candy. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/53 "2013-02-25T00:01:40Z")
Exactly. If the typical American was as deceived as folks in this thread would have us believe, Nutella would be outselling peanut butter 10:1. Itā€™s not, because anyone with 2 taste buds and 4 brain cells knows that the stuff is loaded with sugar. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/54 "2013-02-25T00:04:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I see nothing on [this page](http://www.nutellausa.com/family.htm) comparing it to candy or dessert. [This page](http://www.nutellausa.com/about.htm) boasts that it contains roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and just a _hint_ of cocoaā€¦but not a word about the two primary ingredients that proceed them(sugar and oil.) I also notice that most of the pictures of Nutella has it sharing the picture with fresh fruits and fruit juice. > Nope-no implying nutritional value _here_. I think the last sentence from your first page (ā€œNutella and Familyā€) says it all: ā€œSo why not use NutellaĀ® hazelnut spread to turn a balanced breakfast into a tasty one!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/55 "2013-02-25T00:18:24Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Nutella? Really? Itā€™s chocolate spread! Hazelnut flavored, sure, but no one would confuse it with peanut butter. Itā€™s extremely sweet and has the consistency of lard. The advertising may be deceptive, but Iā€™ve never seen any ads. I donā€™t see anyone actually tasting the stuff, or even seeing it, and thinking itā€™s healthy. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > So itā€™s just like every cereal marketed to children? > > I donā€™t pay attention to ads really. I just know itā€™s what yuppie twnty something eat on crepes. > [@pulykamell](#): > > Iā€™m with you on this one. Iā€™ve never seen an ad for it, but Iā€™ve always assumed it was on the same nutritional level as marshmallow fluff or Hersheyā€™s syrup. I like the stuff, itā€™s fine, great for dessert crepes but, come on. Itā€™s Nutella. Anyone whoā€™s had one spoon of it couldnā€™t possibly think itā€™s healthy, could they? And, yeah, as mentioned beforeā€¦granola bars? Orange juice? The typical brands are also not exactly the best examples of ā€œhealthyā€ food, either. Granola bars, for the most part, are just adult candy. I find it interesting that half the people in the thread who are flabbergasted that anyone would be surprised that Nutella isnā€™t healthy are also those who _havenā€™t_ seen ads for it. Isnā€™t that kind of the point? Those of us who \*have \*seen the ads either thought of it as healthy, or think they want us to think of it as healthy. Those of you are arenā€™t seeing the ads arenā€™t deceived. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/56 "2013-02-25T00:22:39Z")
Not only have I seen the ads, but I commented on it already in this thread. Nice selective quoting, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/57 "2013-02-25T00:30:02Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/58 "2013-02-25T00:30:10Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Not only have I seen the ads, but I commented on it already in this thread. > > Nice selective quoting, though. He didnā€™t quote you, and he said half the people, not all the people. Iā€™m not sure why you felt the need to be snarky about that. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/59 "2013-02-25T00:32:35Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > He didnā€™t quote you, and he said half the people, not all the people. Iā€™m not sure why you felt the need to be snarky about that. She also spoke for ā€œthose of us who have seen the adsā€. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutella-most-deceptive-product-on-the-shelf/651285/60 "2013-02-25T00:33:40Z")
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