The Nutella recipe has changed and many fans of the chocolate-and-hazelnut spread are taking to social media to complain.
Nutella maker Ferrero adjusted the recipe, increasing the amount of powdered skim milk to 8.7 percent from 6.6 percent. The change apparently lightened the spread’s color. Nutella said the amount of sugar didn’t change, contradicting a Hamburg Consumer Protection Center claim that the amount of sugar increased.
In a statement Friday, Nutella also insisted the amount of cocoa in the recipe was unchanged. Some speculated Nutella was using less cocoa to make room for the additional powdered skim milk and sugar.
The recipe change was confirmed Wednesday by Nutella USA in tweets trying to sooth ruffled fans.
“Our recipe underwent a fine-tuning and continues to deliver the Nutella fans know and love with high quality ingredients,” the company said in a tweet.
our recipe underwent a fine-tuning and continues to deliver the Nutella fans know and love with high quality ingredients
— Nutella (@NutellaUSA) November 8, 2017
On Friday, Nov. 10, Nutella issued a statement about the recipe change:
We produce Nutella with the same care all over the world. And we make sure our consumers are fully satisfied with the unique Nutella experience through frequent and robust taste tests. The recent fine-tuning we performed is only a minor change. Concretely in the US, the content of hazelnuts, cocoa, sugar and palm oil remains unchanged. The fine-tuning consists of substituting whey powder with an equivalent quantity (2.1g/100g total product) of milk powder (from 6.6% to 8.7% of total product). This enables us to improve the overall quality of the milk content and to ensure a better consistency of our unique taste over time. That’s all. Our recipe contains 7 simple ingredients, with no colors or preservatives. The nutritional values remain practically unchanged.
The Nutella recipe change was reported Tuesday by The Local, a news blog based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Nutella fans tweeted there was no reason to change the recipe. “It’s perfect just the way it is,” Celeste Gagnon tweeted. Other fans simply asked “Why?” And yet others reminded Ferrero about infamous recipe changes by Coke and Pepsi.
whyyyy would anyone change the #Nutella recipe?!?! pic.twitter.com/QnmvvL0oqW
— Irene Naranjo (@Irene_IRN_Irene) November 8, 2017
Oh #Nutella don't follow the NEW path which lead new #coke crystal #pepsi along with chocolateless #hershey astray #dontchangetherecipe
— Me (@pilarkev_) November 8, 2017
I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed 😔 #Nutella
— Katie Rushmer (@Katie_kins_) November 8, 2017
But not everyone was upset. @Mango_G tweeted: “Bet it still makes anything taste better.”
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Editor’s Note: This article was updated after Nutella issued a statement Friday, Nov. 10.
