Is Nutella Ultra Processed?
Yes — Ultra-Processed
Yes, Nutella is ultra-processed (Level 4). Despite its hazelnut and cocoa branding, Nutella is approximately 57% sugar and 13% palm oil by weight. Hazelnuts comprise only about 13% of the product, with skim milk powder, soy lecithin, and synthetic vanillin rounding out the formulation.
Key Findings
- •Nutella is 57% sugar and 13% palm oil — hazelnuts comprise only about 13% of the product despite dominating the marketing
- •The vanillin is synthetic (produced from guaiacol or lignin), not natural vanilla extract — costing roughly 1/100th the price
- •A less processed alternative is grinding hazelnuts with cocoa and a small amount of sweetener at home — Level 1-2 with 3 ingredients
Why Is Nutella Ultra-Processed?
Nutella's ingredient list reveals a different product than its marketing suggests. The first ingredient is sugar (57%), followed by palm oil (13%), hazelnuts (13%), cocoa solids (7.4%), skim milk powder, soy lecithin (emulsifier), and vanillin (synthetic vanilla flavor, not vanilla extract). The palm oil serves as a smooth, semi-solid fat base at room temperature — without it, the product would separate. Soy lecithin acts as an emulsifier to keep the oil-sugar-cocoa system stable. The vanillin is produced synthetically from guaiacol (a petrochemical derivative) or lignin (a wood pulp byproduct), costing roughly 1/100th of natural vanilla extract. A jar of Nutella contains more sugar than cocoa, more palm oil than hazelnuts, and synthetic rather than natural vanilla — a substantially different composition than "hazelnut spread with cocoa" implies.
Nutella Processing Level Distribution
How 796 nutella products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 12.4 · Average nutrition score: 4.4/10
Nutella Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed nutella products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazelnut Butter Smooth and Creamy Roasted Hazelnut Spread, Hazelnut Butter | Manischewitz | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Ritrovo Selections, Natural Honey & Hazelnut Spread, Caramiele, Caramiele | Ritrovo Selections | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 2.0 | 2 |
| Ritrovo Selections, Natural Honey & Hazelnut Spread, Caramiele, Caramiele | Ritrovo Selections | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 2.0 | 2 |
| Dark Chocolate Spread | Zoet | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Dark Chocolate Spread | Zoet | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Dark Chocolate Spread | Zoet | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 3.5 | 5 |
| Chocolate Spread | Date Lady | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 6 |
| Oregon Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Oregon Hazelnut Chocolate | Eliot's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 6 |
| Chocolate Spread | Choc Alive! | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 7 |
| Oregon Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Oregon Hazelnut Chocolate | Eliot's | Processing Level: 2 out of 4 - Processed | 4.0 | 6 |
How to Read Nutella Labels
- 1
Sugar is the first ingredient at ~57% by weight — more than half the jar is sugar
- 2
Palm oil is the second ingredient at ~13% — more palm oil than hazelnuts by weight
- 3
"Vanillin" (not "vanilla") means synthetic vanilla flavor produced industrially
- 4
Soy lecithin is an industrial emulsifier that prevents the oil-sugar system from separating
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nutella mostly sugar?
Yes. Sugar is the first ingredient at approximately 57% by weight. A 2-tablespoon serving contains 21g of sugar. The product contains more sugar than all other ingredients combined.
Is Nutella healthier than peanut butter?
From a processing standpoint, Nutella (Level 4, 7 ingredients including synthetic vanillin) is significantly more processed than natural peanut butter (Level 1, just peanuts and salt). Nutella is primarily a sugar-and-oil product; natural peanut butter is primarily ground nuts.
What is a less processed alternative to Nutella?
Look for hazelnut-cocoa spreads that list hazelnuts as the first ingredient (Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, for example). Or make your own by blending roasted hazelnuts with cocoa powder and a touch of honey — 3 ingredients, Level 1-2.
Why does Nutella contain palm oil?
Palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature, giving Nutella its smooth, spreadable texture. Without it, the product would be runny or would separate. Palm oil is also significantly cheaper than alternatives like cocoa butter.