Is Nutella Hazelnut Spread Healthy? Full Ingredient Audit & Clean Swaps
Over 55% white sugar by weight with refined palm oil as the second ingredient. Contains very little real hazelnut and uses synthetic vanillin.
What to Avoid
Nutella (55% Refined Sugar, Refined Palm Oil)
Over 55% white sugar by weight with refined palm oil as the second ingredient. Contains very little real hazelnut and uses synthetic vanillin.
Clean Upgrade
Rigoni di Asiago Nocciolata or Artisana Hazelnut Cacao
36%+ organic hazelnuts, cold-pressed oils, real vanilla, and organic cane sugar with zero palm oil.
Official Printed Ingredient Deck
Sugar, Palm Oil, Hazelnuts (13%), Skimmed Milk Powder (8.7%), Fat-Reduced Cocoa (7.4%), Emulsifier: Lecithins (Soya), Vanillin.
Why Avoid Nutella Hazelnut Spread: The Offending Ingredients
Commercial versions of Nutella Hazelnut Spread rely on cheap industrial fillers, preservatives, and flavor chemicals. Here are the specific ingredients to watch for on labels:
Refined White Sugar (1st Ingredient)
Sugar makes up more than half the jar by weight — more candy frosting than genuine nut butter.
Refined Palm Oil (2nd Ingredient)
High-temperature refined palm oil that forms 3-MCPD and glycidyl ester process contaminants.
Synthetic Vanillin
Artificially synthesized flavoring produced from petrochemical waste rather than real vanilla beans.
Soy Lecithin
Chemical hexane-extracted industrial emulsifier from GMO soy.
Top Clean Alternatives & Swaps
These clean brands replace industrial fats and artificial chemicals with real, nutrient-dense whole foods:
Organic Hazelnut Spread (Nocciolata)
Contains over 36% organic Italian hazelnuts, organic cocoa butter, sunflower oil, and real bourbon vanilla. 100% palm-oil free.
Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Dry-roasted hazelnuts, organic cocoa, and responsibly sourced organic sugar. Much higher nut content.
Raw Organic Hazelnut Cacao Spread
Raw organic hazelnuts, coconut sugar, and raw cacao. No emulsifiers, palm oil, or refined sugars.
5-Minute Homemade Clean Hazelnut Cacao Spread
Whole Ingredients:
- 1 cup roasted organic hazelnuts (or pure hazelnut butter)
- 3 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp warm melted coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
How to Make It:
Blend roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until smooth. Add cacao, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt. Blend 60 seconds until glossy.
The CleanLabel Verdict
Verdict: Avoid CompletelyNutella's marketing implies it is a wholesome breakfast hazelnut spread, but its top two ingredients are white sugar and palm oil. Nocciolata offers luxury Italian taste with genuine organic hazelnuts.
Contains high-concern additives, petroleum dyes, carcinogens, or trans fats.
No Barcode Needed. Read Any Label in 3 Seconds.
Barcode apps miss store brands, reformulated recipes, and local groceries. Point CleanLabel at any printed ingredient list to spot hidden sugars, seed oils, and dyes on the spot.