Ferrero launches the vegan version of its famous Nutella spread. Green packaging, the promise of equal taste… Will we finally be able to eat Nutella that is good for us and for the planet? Not so sure…
The plant-based trend continues to conquer the shelves. It’s Nutella’s turn to release the vegan version of its iconic spread. On sale from this Wednesday, September 4, it guarantees, assures Ferrero, “the same incomparable experience as the original recipe.”
With its green lid, a color often associated with ecology, the consumer could also be tempted to believe in a healthier version that is better for the planet. But what is it really? RMC Conso examines this new product in terms of taste, nutritional and ecological interest and price.
The taste is there, the fats and sugar too.
In terms of taste, there’s no point beating around the bush: in the editorial opinion, it’s hard to tell the difference between the classic and the plant-based versions. The inimitable flavor of Nutella is definitely there.
But to be able to reproduce the recipe without the only ingredient of animal origin that it initially contained, no miracle: the composition of vegan Nutella is almost similar to that of classic Nutella, and the (bad) nutritional properties of the product remain unchanged.
The first ingredient of vegan Nutella remains sugar, and the second, palm oil. We still have 13% hazelnut, low-fat cocoa… As for the skimmed milk powder, it is replaced by chickpeas and rice syrup powder.
As a result, the product is slightly less sweet (10 grams of sugar less per 100 grams of product) but with 45.4% sugar, it remains far too rich in carbohydrates. It is also slightly fattier, since it contains 11 grams of saturated fatty acids, while the classic version has 10.6. However, these are associated with an increase in cholesterol levels, a cardiovascular risk factor.
Since these saturated fatty acids are mainly provided by palm oil, we can assume that the vegan version contains more of them, even if the description of the ingredients does not tell us what the exact content is.
Good for vegans, not for lactose intolerant people
No added value, therefore, in nutritional terms for this vegan Nutella, which nevertheless meets the expectations of people wishing to remove all products of animal origin from their diet.
Be careful though, the label specifies that this spread “may contain milk because this product is manufactured in an establishment handling it”. The reason for this mention: the production chain, probably the same as that of classic Nutella, may carry traces of the milk used for the latter.
This therefore excludes from potential consumers all those who cannot eat dairy products because of a lactose allergy.
More expensive, but not more eco-friendly
In terms of price, vegan Nutella is more expensive than its original version. The brand’s recommended marketing price is 4.19 euros per 350 gram jar, knowing that distributors are then free to apply the price they want. This comes to almost 12 euros per kilo, while the classic version costs between 6 and 11 euros per kilo (depending on the format).
A price which can be explained by lower demand, therefore more restricted production, but also by the propensity of the target public to agree to pay more for products in accordance with their convictions.
However, don’t expect to do something for the planet by choosing vegan Nutella: despite the removal of cow’s milk, the presence of palm oil, accused of contributing to deforestation in Southeast Asia, does not make it a virtuous product for the environment.
Although often criticized for this reason, Ferrero clearly has no intention of doing without palm oil, a low-cost ingredient that gives Nutella its incomparable texture… Even if other similar products manage to do very well without it.
