Nutella is Italian for "Lies"

Ahh, Nutella.

Picture found here. 

Anyone who knows me probably knows that I love Nutella. It's magic. It's amazing. It's a chocolate sauce with the perfect consistency to spread across graham crackers and dip pretzels into.

I love Nutella.

Remember that Pinterest addiction I was telling you about? Yeah, I also have a Nutella addiction. And I like to mix my addictions. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to Nutella. I know. It's bad. 

Before I go on, let me make it clear: I am an advocate of Nutella. If you have not tried it, stop reading this blog post, go buy a jar, and start eating. 

Have some Nutella? Okay. Let's continue. (If you can stand to put the spoon down.)

Now, as much as I love Nutella, there is one thing I hate about their ad campaign. 

Watch this:

Disgusting. Gross. Lies. 

Listen to that woman! She's implying all of these wonderful things about Nutella's nutritional value: hazelnuts, skim milk, and "just a hint" of cocoa. Oh! And if we spread it on multi-grain toast or whole wheat waffles and put some bananas and orange juice on the table, it's healthy!  Plus, this family is skinny and fit. Nutella is great! Right? 

Although the commercial never says it with words, everything about this commercial is projecting Nutella as a healthy food that can be a major component to an actual meal. 

Visiting the Nutella USA website, I was quickly told that Nutella contains 50 Hazelnuts per jar. It also has no artificial colors or preservatives. Isn't that great?

Then, right below these claims, is the list of ingredients. The first one? Sugar. You know what that means? Sugar is the most prominent ingredient in Nutella. The next ingredient? Palm oil. Finally, we get to the hazelnuts and cocoa powder as ingredients number three and four. 

Nutella is over 70% sugar and fat. 

And that's what you want to have for breakfast?

Apparently Nutella has run into angry American customers before for their "false advertising". Ferrero (the Italian company responsible for this chocolaty goodness) settled a class action lawsuit in 2012 with Americans who apparently thought Nutella provided healthy benefits. If those Americans were going completely off the commercials, I can't blame them for drawing that conclusion. 

Now, I realize that Nutella is not actually the Italian word for lies. It may, however, be a synonym for the English word "gullible".

I love Nutella. But I know Nutella is not good for me. How do I know?... I can read. 

Attention American people everywhere: learn to read the labels on your food! Use your head! If sugar is even on the list of ingredients, that food is probably not that great for you. Same goes for food with high-fructose corn syrup in it. And the first three ingredients are particularly important because they are what make up most of that food. If sugar is in the first three, realize that what you are purchasing is a dessert. Not breakfast. 

I'm not happy with Ferrero for false advertising, but I'm even more ticked at the Americans who apparently cannot read and have never taken a nutrition class. 

Have you stopped eating that jar of Nutella yet? By all means, please continue. Just realize that Nutella is a dessert, not breakfast. It should be eaten in moderation, just like any other high-sugar food.