Nutella maker sued over health claims

by Michelle da Silva on Apr 30, 2012 at 3:42 pm
Were you fooled into believing that Nutella was a healthy spread?
allison.hare

Give your kid a candy bar or serve them a nutella sandwich? If you thought the answer was obvious, think again.

Ferrero U.S.A. Inc., the company that owns Nutella—a creamy, hazelnut and chocolate spread for those who have been living under a rock, or never smoked a fatty and subsequently spooned your way through a couple of jars—has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit to those who believe they were misguided into thinking that Nutella was “healthier than it actually is”.

It all started when a California mom named Athena Hohenberg decided to take legal action last year. Hohenberg—who’s up for Mother of the Year, we’re told—was feeding her four-year-old daughter Nutella thinking that it was “healthy” and “part of a balanced meal” as the TV ads for the product claim. I know what you’re thinking: What? TV ads make false claims? You shouldn’t believe everything you see or hear on TV?? No way!

Well, apparently a ton of other moms sending their kids to school with Nutella sandwiches feel the same way as Hohenberg, and Ferrero has been required to pay a total of $3 million and change some of the language in its TV ads and on labels. Of the $3 million, $2.5 million will be divided among claimants (If you live in the U.S. and believe you were misguided into buying a jar of Nutella, you can still submit a claim through the Nutella Class Action Settlement website until July 5), which works out to about $4 per jar, for those who are wondering.

Unfortunately, for those of us residing in the Great White North who have been putting the chocolate-hazelnut spread on everything short of our toothbrushes, there’s no monetary award for us—yet.

You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.

Comments (18) Add New Comment
Maya Beckersmith
Apr 30, 2012 at 3:57 pm
I always thought those ads were hilarious!
1
0
Rating: +1
Jennie Ramstad
Apr 30, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Someone actually believed Nutella was nutritious?
0
1
Rating: -1
adam g
Apr 30, 2012 at 6:42 pm
the voice on the ad telling me its nutritious is so pleasant and friendly i thought "theres no way im being lied to!" chocolate and hazelnuts part of a balanced diet? A resounding YES from this idiot!
1
1
Rating: 0
Anonymous
Apr 30, 2012 at 7:37 pm
If the consumers are going after Mirella, then perhaps they should go after the cereal companies too! Parents you are in control of what you feed your child! Read the labels for goodness sakes and be a responsible parent by taking the blame for your own actions! You feed your kids junk you get fat kids - end of story!
1
0
Rating: +1
Kim
Apr 30, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Here's your problem, it's a spread, NOT A SANDWICH FILLER! A SPREAD for a snack. like on one piece of bread, not inbetween two pieces slabbed so thick it's spilling out the sides. /facepalm. Stop blaming the world for obesity.
1
0
Rating: +1
Be a Man
Apr 30, 2012 at 8:32 pm
90% of all doctors smoke Camels!!
0
1
Rating: -1
A. MacInnis
Apr 30, 2012 at 11:01 pm
My favourite Italian cafe in Maple Ridge uses them in a dessert; before I asked what it was, I always took it for some random chocolate filling. It's hard for me to believe that anyone would believe it healthy, but holding the company to account for misleading people is just fine. Imagine a world where there was actually honesty in advertising... it seems rather utopian and far-fetched, doesn't it?
1
0
Rating: +1
Steve T
May 1, 2012 at 11:21 am
Americans will sue the manufacturer of their underwear if they put them on back to front. They seem to think the manufacturer has some kind of control over how you wear your undies. I think this is more about an American lawyer making a buck.
0
0
Rating: 0
Ian G62
May 1, 2012 at 6:25 pm
at least it is chocolate-ish in nature, the stuff that goes on chocolate biscuits these days such as Hobnobs is "chocolate flavoured topping", I stopped eating them forthwith - coincidentally I have just consumed a Nutella and organic peanut butter sandwich made from locally baked Pane Formaggio Roasted Pumpkin Seed Soudough loaf mmm
1
0
Rating: +1
imfromtheinternet
May 1, 2012 at 9:23 pm
If you thought nutella was good for you...

You're gonna have a bad time.
0
0
Rating: 0
R2
May 1, 2012 at 11:40 pm
I reckon I gotta switch back to Whole Grain Strawberry pop tarts for breakfast or are you gonna tell me those ain't part of a well balanced diet too?
1
0
Rating: +1
Never believed it was healthy, but this was a direct copy fr
May 2, 2012 at 9:27 am
NUTELLA® is a great choice for kids as part of a nutritious breakfast. ... Perform better at school; Are more likely to meet the nutritional intake needed for healthy ...

THAT'S false advertising. Next aspartame or sugar substitutes??? I'd support that, too!
0
1
Rating: -1
Mofotan
May 2, 2012 at 11:29 am
Hello people. Read the ingredients. Isn't all advertising "false" in some way or another?
1
0
Rating: +1
Bonnie Friesen
May 2, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Buyer beware! Reminds me how important it is to never allow anyone to be an expert on your life no matter what their credentials. As much as we would love to believe that everyone has integrity and is working together for the good of all, unfortunately, this is not always true. Always best to question everything and what better place to do that than the internet! In the final analysis, we must trust our intuition and gut instincts. We must be sure of what we want to say yes to and what we want to say no to, that is the only true power we own is it not!?!
1
1
Rating: 0
election
May 2, 2012 at 1:29 pm
i used to smoke buckingham cigarettes ...anyone remember those?? they were so strong they were banned in 1994
0
1
Rating: -1
cathy
May 2, 2012 at 7:13 pm
What Nutella wants you to believe-{note hazelnuts first}-"Nutella contains hazelnuts, cocoa powder, skim milk powder, vegetable oil, sugar, soy lecithin and vanillin"

The true list with what's most in it first: Sugar, vegetable oil, hazelnuts (13%), cocoa powder (7.4%), non-fat milk solids, emulsifier (soy lecithin), flavour (vanillin)

So a whole lot of sugar!!


0
1
Rating: -1
Falklander
May 2, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Yeah, uh, they probably should have clued in that the "balanced breakfast" part involved whole grain bread or whole wheat waffles, two foods that I've been told time and again do not appeal to young children. Their entire claim is resting on adding a sugary, chocolatey substance to foods that children view as cardboard byproducts.

Has anyone had the Cadbury Chocolate Spread? I mean, like the British one, not that localized crap. It actually has less sugar than Nutella and no nuts.
0
1
Rating: -1
Stephanie Clarke
May 11, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Oh for God's sake. Who cares! Take responsibility for what you feed your kids.
0
0
Rating: 0
Add new comment
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.