February 5: World Nutella Day

Céline Arétin, culture, women's issues and environment correspondent, February 5, 2026

Origin of World Nutella Day

World Nutella Day was created on February 5, 2007 by Italian-American blogger Sara Rosso, who wanted to bring together fans of this spread around a global event. From the very first editions, culinary influencers such as Giallo Zafferano in Italy and David Lebovitz in the United States posted special recipes, such as a Nutella cheesecake or filled cookies. In 2013, Italian fans even created a mural mosaic of Nutella jars in Alba, Ferrero's hometown, and the company itself took over organizing the day in 2015.

Nutella around the world

Nutella, sold in more than 160 countries, is eaten in different ways depending on the region. In France, it's often spread on crepes and milk bread. In Italy, where it was born in 1964, it accompanies cornetti (Italian croissants) and is used in tiramisu recipes. In Germany, bakeries offer it in Berliners (filled doughnuts), and McDonald's even launched the McToast Nutella there. In Turkey, Nutella is added to kahvaltı (traditional breakfast) alongside honey and cheese. In Brazil, it's a popular filling for pão de queijo and brigadeiros. In the United States, coffee shops offer Nutella milkshakes, and chains such as IHOP serve pancakes topped with Nutella. In Japan, it's used to fill dorayaki, while in Australia, it's popular in acai bowls.

Controversies surrounding Nutella

One of the most recurring criticisms concerns the use of palm oil, accused of contributing to massive deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia. In 2015, French Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal called for a boycott of Nutella for this reason. Another controversy concerns the product's sugar and saturated fat content. In 2017, a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) warned about the presence of potentially carcinogenic substances in palm oil refined at high temperatures, which prompted some retailers, such as Sainsbury's in the United Kingdom, to temporarily pull Nutella from their shelves.

Nutella vs other spreads

In France, Michel Cluizel's spread and that of Le Chocolat des Français offer alternatives with a high percentage of hazelnuts and cocoa. Major retailers have also launched their own versions: Casino, Carrefour and Intermarché have created palm-oil-free spreads. In Italy, Ferrero has to compete with local brands such as Crema Novi, which contains 45% hazelnuts compared to about 13% for Nutella.