Why is Nutella biscuits classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

NOVA 4 denotes products made mostly from industrial ingredients and containing multiple additives. Nutella biscuits include the emulsifier lecithin (E322), the raising agents disodium diphosphate (E450 i), sodium bicarbonate (E500 ii) and ammonium bicarbonate (E503 ii), as well as palm‑derived vegetable fats, which together make the biscuit an ultra‑processed food.

How does the high sugar and moderate salt content in Nutella biscuits affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 35.8 g of sugar per 100 g, the biscuits can cause rapid blood‑glucose spikes, making them unsuitable for strict diabetic control, while the 0.55 g of salt is lower than many snacks and poses a smaller risk for hypertension, though the overall calorie and carbohydrate load still warrant limited consumption for both conditions.

Is the palm oil used in Nutella biscuits a concern for environmental sustainability?

The product contains both palm and palm‑kernel oil, ingredients linked to deforestation and threatened‑species impacts. Consequently, the use of palm oil raises sustainability concerns despite the small quantity in the formulation.

nutella • 193.2g

nutella biscuits

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Nutella biscuits are sweet snack biscuits that belong to the sugary snacks and biscuits‑and‑cakes families. They carry a Nutri‑Score of E and are placed in NOVA group 4, reflecting an ultra‑processed product with high sugar (35.8 g per 100 g) and fat (24.8 g) but relatively low salt (0.55 g) and moderate saturated fat (1.6 g). While they provide a quick source of energy and contain wheat‑based carbohydrates, they also contain several allergens (gluten, milk, hazelnuts, soy) and additives such as lecithin (E322), disodium diphosphate (E450 i), sodium bicarbonate (E500 ii) and ammonium bicarbonate (E503 ii), which may be concerns for health‑conscious consumers.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

moderate

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g

Energy Kcal515 kcal

Fat24.8 g

Saturated Fat1.6 g

Carbohydrates64 g

Sugars35.8 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack biscuit, Nutella biscuits contain markedly more sugar (35.8 g vs 28.9 g) and fat (24.8 g vs 17.7 g), slightly less saturated fat (1.6 g vs 7.8 g) and much lower salt (0.55 g vs 2.0 g), resulting in a higher energy content (515 kcal vs 418 kcal).

Ingredients

HAZELNUT SPREAD WITH COCOA (40%) (SUGAR, VEGETABLE FAT (PALM), HAZELNUTS (13%), SKIMMED MILK POWDER (8.7%), FAT-REDUCED COCOA POWDER (7.4%), EMULSIFIER: LECITHIN (SOY), FLAVOURING: VANILLIN), WHEAT FLOUR, VEGETABLE FATS (PALM, PALM KERNEL), ICING CANE SUGAR 8.5%, LACTOSE, WHEAT BRAN, WHOLE MILK POWDER, HONEY, RAISING AGENTS: DISODIUM DIPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, AMMONIUM BICARBONATE, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, FAT-REDUCED COCOA POWDER, SALT, POWDERED BARLEY MALT AND CORN EXTRACT, WHEAT STARCH, EMULSIFIER: LECITHIN (SOY), FLAVOURING: VANILLIN. CONTAINS EMULSIFIER AND RAISING AGENT AS PERMITTED FOOD CONDITIONERS AND PERMITTED FLAVOURING SUBSTANCES FOR FOOD USE. ALLERGEN INFORMATION: CONTAINS MILK, WHEAT (GLUTEN), BARLEY (GLUTEN), HAZELNUTS, SOY.

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