evidence: Does Nutella really cause cancer? The truth behind the not-so-sweet news isn't so clear After a report raised concerns that palm oil — a key ingredient in Nutella —could be linked to a heightened risk of cancer, the makers of the chocolate hazelnut spread are launching a major campaign to convince consumers that Nutella is still safe to eat. [...] So what does the Nutella cancer panic mean for consumers here in the United States? The EFSA cautioned that more research is required to better our understanding toxicity of palm oil, and so far, Reuters reports global Nutella sales have been "unaffected" by the EFSA's report.