Ségolène Royal, France’s ecology minister, is asking the public to stop eating Nutella, as the manufacturing of the spread contributes to deforestation.
In an interview on the French television network Canal+, the ecology minister said ‘We have to replant a lot of trees because there is massive deforestation that also leads to global warming. We should stop eating Nutella, for example, because it’s made with palm oil. Oil palms have replaced trees, and therefore caused considerable damage to the environment.’
Nutella, she said, should be made from ‘other ingredients’.
Ferrero, the Italian chocolate group that makes Nutella, has issued a statement saying it has made commitments to source palm oil in a responsible manner and was is aware of the environmental stakes.
In 2011 French senators argued that the harmed the environment and tried unsuccessfully to impose a 300% tax on palm oil.
Since the statement was made Italy’s environment minister has said he plans to eat Nutella for dinner.“Ségolène Royal is worrying. Leave Italian products alone. For dinner tonight … it’s bread with Nutella.”
