Nutella fans go nuts after company changes the recipe

Nutella has confirmed that it has changed the recipe of its chocolate and hazelnut spread – sparking a huge backlash among fans of the brand.

The maker of the spread, Ferrero, acknowledged it was adjusting its formula following a report by a German consumer group.

It was announced by the Hamburg Consumer Protection Centre’s Facebook page that a jar of spread made by the Italian chocolate firm now contains 8.7 per cent powdered skim milk, as opposed to 7.5 per cent previously, based on an analysis of the product label.

‘The quality … and all the other characteristics of Nutella remain the same,’ the company said.

The German subsidiary of Ferrero said it had made an ‘adjustment’ to the spread as many brands regularly do with their products.

The amount of powered skimmed milk in Nutella is set to increase from 7.5 to 8.3 per cent 

Yet the consumer association noted that the colour of the spread had been made lighter due to the recipe change.

‘As the colour of the new Nutella is lighter, we are working on the assumption that skimmed milk powder was added at the expense of cacao,’ it said, noting that Ferrero is not required to disclose the amount of cacao in Nutella. 

Many Nutella-lovers took to social media to express their dismay the recipe of the chocolate spread had been altered. 

Marina Daydreamer said: ‘#Ferrero changed the recipe for #nutella (at least in #germany) more sugar, less fat and probably less cocoa. Is it the 1st of April again?’

Another social media user tweeted: ‘Just heared that #Nutella changed their recipe. I mean come on there are things in life you CANT do! And this is one of this things! #sweets.’

Felien S. Geldhof‏ added: ‘They have apparantly been making some changes to the Nutella recipe. #DontMessWithNutella #Nutella.’

The amount of sugar in Nutella, which already amounts for half the product, has also been increased – rising from 55.9 to 56.3 per cent, according to the association.

Nutella has been lambasted by Hungary’s food safety agency after claiming jars sold in the Central European nation appeared to be ‘less creamy’ than those sold in Austria. 

The European Commission, part of the EU’s executive arm watchdog, said it would give member states one million euros to improve quality control testing to detect deficiencies in products. 

MailOnline has contacted Ferrero for a comment. 

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