Comments on: Nutella? Bad for your diet?

By: PointOfLaw Forum

PointOfLaw Forum — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:57:06 +0000

Around the web, February 10…

TRO against collection in Chevron Ecuador case. [AP/NYT] Responses to Laurence Tribe (NYT) on the Obamacare lawsuits. [Yoo @ Ricochet; Epstein @ Ricochet; Adler @ Volokh; Tabarrok; Instapundit roundup] Zach Scruggs has already served his time for his r…

By: Litigation and Trial

Litigation and Trial — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:42:41 +0000

Inevitable Consumer Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Nutella’s “Healthy” False Advertising…

One of the great things about being a lawyer is that, like a sports fan watching a play unfold, you can foresee lawsuits before they’re even filed. Nutella is delicious, creamy, and chocolaty, but one thing it is not: healthy…….

By: Max Kennerly

Max Kennerly — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:40:23 +0000

Thanks for the link. Two additional thoughts:

First, Nutella really walked themselves into this one with their new advertising campaign. Their defense is pretty obvious – “we only said it was part of a balanced breakfast, not that it was healthy per se”– but that just sets them up for another issue. If I was the plaintiffs’ attorney, I would listen to that response and then ask, “all right, so what part of the balance does Nutella add?”

Second, I think most consumers would be surprised to learn that the product is 75% sugar and palm oil. I never thought the thing was healthy, but I thought it was primarily hazelnuts and milk products, which is how the advertisement describes it. But it’s not: it is almost entirely sugar and palm oil with a tiny amount of hazelnuts, milk product, and chocolate added for flavoring. That, to me, is disturbing in light of their advertising and labels.

By: culdesachero

culdesachero — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 05:05:49 +0000

They seem to be implying that the average person defines healthy as low-calorie (i.e. weight loss) food. Of course, nothing with calories could be healthy. I bet they’re trolling rejects for reality weight-loss shows for clients.

By: Bumper

Bumper — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 08:37:48 +0000

Damn shame that Congress didn’t put its foot down and require labels on the outside of the jar so people could see the composition of the contents before they bought it and consumed it.

Oh, they did. Never mind.

By: Gale

Gale — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:34:58 +0000

Oh, yeah! All the Nutella advertising talks about how natural it is and how it’s part of a balanced breakfast and generally makes it sound really healthy. Only in reality the stuff has as much sugar than frosting! Which explains why it tastes just like frosting with a nutty twang. It is however healthier frosting than frosting, because it has some nutrients, and less trans fats (I think no trans fats, actually…but I’d have to check the label.) And that’s exactly what I use it for. Cup-cake frosting. But I’ve been tempted to not buy it even for that because I hate how deceptive their advertising is.

By: kimsch

kimsch — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 02:09:08 +0000

My 16 y/o son made a Nutella and Fluff sandwich for lunch today (his school is still out for the SnOMG blizzard of 2011 – 10 y/o went to school today).

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:57:31 +0000

You know how many jars of Nutella probably sold today because of this news item! Now all I can think of is a Nutella sandwich and a glass of milk.

By: No Name Guy

No Name Guy — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:23:21 +0000

Actually, the stuff is quite good for the diet….especially if one is engaged in extended strenuous physical activities.

The high fat content is a requirement to be able to put down sufficient calories when one burns through 5,000 to 6,000 a day. Lots of long distance hikers (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, etc) go through the stuff by the spoonful.

Looking at the nutrition info on the wiki page for it (Nutella), the US version is 1950 calories for a 13 ounce jar – only 150 calories an ounce (28 grams).

By way of comparison, “Healthy” olive oil per
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/509/2
is 248 calories per ounce (28 grams).

And peanut butter, that staple of many a kids diet (how many PBJ’s did you eat? or PB on toast?)

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4366/2

165 calories per ounce (28 grams).

I guess the plaintiff had better sue peanut butter and olive oil makers as well as their eeeeevil corporate pushers. Then again, perhaps the plaintiff needs remedial reading for her functional illiteracy – since she’s obviously incapable of understanding a label.