Coop, the largest supermarket chain in Italy, pulled Nutella in May, along with 200 other products from its shelves. The popular hazelnut chocolate spread is said to contain refined palm oil, which other say cause an increased risk of developing cancer. Now, more Italian supermarkets have followed suit and removed Nutella, too.

Contaminants Created When Palm Oil Is Refined Is Carcinogenic

According to Independent, processed palm oil can be found in chocolate bars, ice cream, sandwich spreads and other common products. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) previously stated that contaminants created when palm oil is refined are carcinogenic. Authorities did not recommend against eating Nutella, but said that a further evaluation and research would be needed to determine the level of risk.

Nutella Uses Refined Palm Oil For Its Smooth Texture And Shelf Life

Nutella uses refined palm oil for its smooth texture and shelf life. "Making Nutella without palm oil would produce an inferior substitute for the real product, it would be a step backward," purchasing manager for Ferrero, Vincenzo Tapella, said. Palm oil, Daily Mail reported, is the cheapest oil in the market, and switching ingredients would cost the manufacturer, Ferrero, an additional $8-22 million a year.

EFSA published a report in 2016 saying that that the major cancer concern is over glycidyl fatty acid esters or GE, which form during food processing, or when palm oil is refined at temperatures over 393 Fahrenheit. GE poses a cancer risk, Helle Knutsen, Chair of EFSA's expert Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain, said.

Now, the manufacturer has launched an advertising campaign to assure consumers that Nutella is safe. EFSA's report said that palm oil is more dangerous than other vegetable oils when refined at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius. However, Ferrero says that the industrial process that they use combines a temperature of just below 200C and extremely low pressure to minimize contaminants.