Beware of chocolate sandwiches!

Sometimes products make claims on their packaging that can make you think they’re better for you than they really are...

We found a good example recently when researching our article: How to choose: Nut spreads

Nutella hazelnut spread is a favourite with kids, and no wonder: it’s like eating Ferrero Rocher chocolates. In fact, Mr Ferrero first created Nutella during World War II to extend the chocolate supply when cocoa was in short supply.

There’s lots of information on the Nutella pack to soothe any doubts you might have that a chocolatey hazelnut spread could be healthy: "Low GI; made with skim milk; packed with hazelnuts; only 7.6% cocoa”.

It’s not until you read the ingredients list that you get the real story - and remember, they are listed in order of weight: sugar, peanut oil, hazelnuts (13%); skim milk powder, low-fat cocoa, hydrogenated peanut oil, emulsifier, vanillin flavour, milk solids (9%); cocoa solids (7.6%).

Any product whose first ingredient is sugar is of dubious nutritional value. Yes, Nutella contains hazelnuts; a mere 13% of the content is hazelnuts compared to peanut butters that are almost 100% peanuts. Our advice: peanut butter is better!