When I was in my early 20's (sheesh, back in the Stone Age!), I was on vacation in Antwerp (a lovely Old World city), and my Belgian boyfriend introduced me to Nutella. I could be mistaken, but I think I heard a choir of angels singing--the taste was beyond heavenly. A chocolate-hazelnut spread! On toast, topped with fresh fruit! That was my version of ambrosia, the food of the gods.
Well, my relationship with Nutella lasted a LOT longer than the one with my Belgian boyfriend. When I got back to New York, I found Nutella in the ultra-high-priced Upper East Side gourmet markets (and only there). I've been enjoying it for years since then--although it's gotten decidely cheaper, now that it's widely available in supermarkets, and pretty close to everybody in America has eaten it straight out of the jar by the spoonful. (Especially my kids.)
So, why did I give up something that I LOVE to eat? Because I found out that Nutella--along with the generic supermarket versions of it and the knock-offs from Jif and Hershey--is made using palm oil. And palm oil is a deal-breaker for me.
The palm oil industry has so many ugly problems, it's hard to know where to begin, but here's a start:
- According to the World Wildlife Fund, an area the equivalent size of 300 football fields of rainforest is cleared (burned) each hour to make way for palm oil production.
- Rainforest animals "get in the way" of the palm oil industry, and animal cruelty and killing is rampant.
- Many species are being pushed to the brink of extinction, including Orangutans and Sumatran tigers.
- If you have a strong stomach (warning: graphic photos), this link explains the everyday tragedies caused by the sourcing of palm oil.
The extent of the problem is HUGE, because palm oil is used in...oh, let's see...almost everything?! Here's a list from the World Wildlife Fund to illustrate that point. Check those ingredient labels!
Believe it or not, there's something good to report: Six months ago, Ferrero, the makers of Nutella, switched over to 100% sustainable palm oil. Hopefully, they'll update their label with that fact, and soon. But not all companies use sustainable palm oil, so if the label doesn't say it, check the product website or call them to ask.
FYI: There are several all-natural or organic chocolate hazelnut spreads made without palm oil. Check out this list called "Move Over, Nutella! We've already tried two of them at our house: Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter (too salty for me, but the kids liked it), and Nocciolata Organic Hazelnut Spread (that one's a winner!).
Tonight, feeling nostalgic for my Nutella days, I melted down some semi-sweet chocolate chips, mixed in some toasted almonds (no hazelnuts in the pantry!), and added a pinch of sea salt. It's pictured at the top, with sliced apples. Didn't taste a thing like Nutella, but I think I heard two angels singing. Or maybe that was just my kids...they loved it.
How 'bout you? Have you ever given up a product for ethical reasons? Do tell in the comment section below!
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