Replacing milk reduces the carbon footprint of the spread, but experts say eliminating palm oil would have a greater environmental impact. In Italy, the cost is 50 percent higher than classic Nutella
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On the occasion of the sixtieth birthday of the Nutellathe most famous hazelnut cream in the world, Ferrero has decided to launch its vegan version.
Recognisable by the green jar cap, Nutella with ingredients of plant origin is available from September in Italy, France And Belgium in the 350 gram format and will also arrive in other European markets in 2025.
“A few months after the launch of Nutella Ice Creamwe are also launching the version on the market today Nutella Plant Basedmade with plant-based ingredients which, as an alternative to milk, integrates chickpeas and rice syrup – explained Stefano Lelli Mami, Region Marketing Manager Nutella Italia -, two ingredients with a delicate and balanced taste, which have made it possible to guarantee the unmistakable taste and typical creaminess of Nutella”.
The Luxembourg-based Italian multinational specializing in confectionery products said in a statement that the vegan Nutella aims to meet the growing demand for foods that do not use animal products.
Will Vegan Nutella Have a Lower Environmental Impact?
Replacing milk with lower carbon products means the vegan version should be less harmful to the environment.
“Plant proteins are better for the climate than milk proteins,” says Corentin Biardeau, an agricultural and food engineer at the climate think tank The Shift Project.
This is confirmed by the data from the platform where it is possible to calculate the CO2 emissions CarbonCloudThe platform calculates that skimmed milk powder generates 15.5 kg of carbon dioxide per kg, unlike chickpeas, only 0.4 kg and brown rice syrup, 1.77 kg.
Vegan Nutella Still Contains Controversial Palm Oil
However, powdered milk represents only a small part (8.7 percent) of Nutella’s ingredients.
“The substitution has a certain effect, but that’s not the main problem,” says Biardeau. “If Ferrero had really aimed at an ecological product, it should have first replaced palm oil.” Palm oil, which contributes to deforestation in Southeast Asia, remains a key ingredient in Nutella despite the fact that the exact amount used is not indicated on the label.
Palm oil is vegetable oil most consumed in the world: produced mainly in Indonesia and Malaysia, 80 percent is used for food, 10 for cosmetics and another 10 for biofuels.
According to the database of the French environmental agency Agribalysethe alternatives, such as rapeseed and sunflower oilemit two to three times less carbon dioxide than palm oil. These substitute oils release an average of 2.28 kg of CO2 per kg and 2.58 kg respectively, compared to 6.04 kg for palm oil.
Why is the vegan version more expensive?
Some experts also question the price of the product, which is more expensive than the original version. Prices vary from country to country: in Italy, vegan Nutella costs 50 percent more than classic Nutella: €4.49 for a 350-gram jar, compared to the €2.99 needed to buy a classic jar of the same weight. This is €12.82/kg.
“We are surprised that the vegan version is more expensive, even though plant proteins are cheaper than milk, which is probably not paid at high enough prices by farmers,” says Biardeau.
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