The wait is over. Vegan Nutella arrives: ‘Chickpeas and rice syrup instead of milk’
Green cap and no animal ingredients, for a product that winks at those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and those who are lactose intolerant.
But one only has to look at the Nutella recipe for 70% sugar and palm oil (of which 56.3g sugar) hazelnuts (13%), skimmed milk powder (8.7%), low-fat cocoa (7.4%), emulsifiers: soya lecithin and vanillin flavouring) to realise that the new ‘vegan hazelnut and cocoa spread’ is essentially the same. In fact, 91.3% of the ingredients currently in use are of vegetable origin.
Gone is the skimmed milk powder, replaced by vegetable ingredients: chickpea and rice syrup to also meet the needs of lactose-intolerant people.
Yet according to the panel of experts
of the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the majority of individuals diagnosed with lactose intolerance digest up to 12 g of lactose in a single serving (particularly if it is taken with food), without experiencing symptoms or with reduced symptoms. And it can go up to 24 g if foods containing lactose are spread throughout the day.
Considering that a 450 jar of traditional Nutella contains 8.7 per cent milk powder. Who eats 5 jars of Nutella in one go or 10 in a day?
Although the green cap and the absence of animal ingredients may suggest a healthier product, it is important to emphasise that vegan does not necessarily mean healthy. In fact, the new Plant-Based Nutella remains high in sugar and fat.
Although it contains no skimmed milk powder, the main components are still sugar and palm oil, with a composition that, in terms of calories and nutrition, does not differ much from the traditional version.
The decision to keep ingredients such as palm oil and cocoa, both of which come from distant geographical areas and are often associated with environmental issues, also reminds us that this is not exactly a sustainable product. Ferrero has shown a commitment to innovation and responding to market trends, but the real challenge will be to demonstrate that this plant-based version can align itself with high standards of sustainability and transparency in the production chain.
Text, with which I agree, taken from the web.
Under an advertising campaign from a few years ago to which I replied: Ferrero says ‘I love you Italy’. I say ‘If it’s true, prove it to me’.
