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Bad possibility for anyone who is a fan of Nutella: in May, the The European Food Standards Authority, the European body that regulates food, has warned that palm oil (known here as dendê oil) used as an ingredient in Nutella can cause cancer. Since then, many people have taken issue, and several Italian markets have even stopped selling the product. Ferrero, manufacturer of Nutella, has now spoken out and said there is no risk.
Palm oil — also used in other popular products like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream — has always been quite controversial. It can become dangerous when heated to over 200°C, as is done in the manufacture of some foods. When it reaches this temperature, the oil releases fatty acids, which can be carcinogenic.
The ingredient is heated to eliminate its red color and odor. Ferrero argues, however, that the oil does not reach 200°C in the manufacture of Nutella. In addition, the pressure is kept low. According to the company, this care makes the process slower and 20% more expensive.
Per year, the company uses 185 thousand tons of palm oil in the delicacy formula. According to Reutersother oils, such as those derived from sunflowers and seeds, could be used in the recipe, but this would cause a large annual cost increase: it would be an additional US$ 22 million.
Vincenzo Tapella, the company’s purchasing manager, told the Reuters that palm oil will not stop being used in the formula — and that the decision is based on quality, not cost. “Making Nutella without the oil would result in an inferior product. It would be a step backwards,” he said.
SOURCES websites Reuters, Independent It is Business Insider