Why would you do this to us? (Picture: Getty)

A study has suggested that an ingredient in Nutella could cause cancer and everyone is very sad about it.

The delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread contains palm oil, which the European food agency warn is carcinogenic and could be linked to cancer.

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The largest supermarket chain in Italy, Coop, boycotted palm oil in all its own-brand products following the EFSA study, describing the move as a ‘precaution’.

Italy’s biggest baker, Barilla, also eliminated it and put ‘palm oil-free’ labels on produce, while other food companies are boycotting palm oil due to health and environmental concerns.


Nutella fans were extremely vocal about their distress at the study – with some claiming the product’s taste was worth the risk.

Nutella can cause cancer?! 2017 just looked 2016 in the face and said "Checkmate" — President Goodtime (@SethGoodtime) January 12, 2017

scientist: nutella can kill you

me: pic.twitter.com/LKPlGpJ309 — mchristmas (@kiritonyaxD) January 12, 2017

when i found out nutella can kill u pic.twitter.com/xEuxO0yVq9 — lil sosa (@chulomang) January 12, 2017

Death by Nutella is how I want to go anyway. https://t.co/92cOBx1zXO — Ines Helene (@inihelene) January 12, 2017

Me: I hate Nutella

Scientists: Nutella can kill you

Me: pic.twitter.com/eU1rL3KGms — Al (@AhmedAlhayawi) January 12, 2017

Italian confectionery firm Ferrero, who produce Nutella, has taken a public stand in defense of the edible oil, which has been labelled as a cancer risk.



Ferrero launched an ad campaign to assure the public about the safety of Nutella, its flagship product which makes up about a fifth of its sales.

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‘Making Nutella without palm oil would produce an inferior substitute for the real product, it would be a step backward,’ said Ferrero’s purchasing manager Vincenzo Tapella.

‘The palm oil used by Ferrero is safe because it comes from freshly squeezed fruits and is processed at controlled temperatures,’ Tapella adds in the TV ad, which was filmed at the firm’s factory in the northern town of Alba and was accompanied by full-page ads in newspapers carrying the same message.

A move away from palm oil would also have economic implications for the firm as it is the cheapest vegetable oil.

Ferrero uses about 185,000 tonnes of palm oil a year, so replacing it with those substitutes could cost the firm an extra $8-22 million annually, at those prices.

(Picture: Metro / Nutella)

Palm oil: The risks The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said in May that palm oil generated more of a potentially carcinogenic contaminant than other vegetable oils when refined at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius. It did not, however, recommend consumers stop eating it and said further study was needed to assess the level of risk. The detailed research into the contaminant – known as GE – was commissioned by the European Commission in 2014 after an EFSA study the year before, into substances generated during industrial refining, identified it as being potentially harmful. EFSA does not have the power to make regulations, though the issue is currently being reviewed by the European Commission. The spokesman for Health and Food Safety, Enrico Brivio, said guidance would be issued by the end of this year. Measures could include regulations to limit the level of GE in food products, but there will not be a ban on the use of palm oil, he added.

A spokesperson for Ferrero told Metro.co.uk: ‘The health and safety of consumers is an absolute and first priority for Ferrero and we confirm that Ferrero products are safe. EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has analysed the presence of contaminants in a large number of products and oils stating that the presence of contaminants depends on the oils and fats used as well as the processes they are subjected to.

‘It is for this reason that Ferrero carefully selects quality raw materials and applies specific industrial processes that limit their presence to minimum levels, fully in line with the parameters defined by the EFSA.

‘In addition, our Quality teams constantly monitor such factors and guarantee the food safety of our products to the consumer.’

Click here for more information on palm oil.