evidence: Could Nutella really cause cancer? Here's what you need to know [...] Lovers of chocolate spread may have been shocked on Wednesday by news that an ingredient in Nutella could potentially cause cancer. Supermarkets in Italy have even begun removing some products from shelves that contain the offending ingredient - processed palm oil. But are people over-reacting or are the risks real? [...] In May, Coop, Italy’s largest supermarket chain, pulled around 200 of its own-brand products from its shelves, because they contain refined palm oil, which some say may increase the risk of developing cancer. Nutella was not among the products removed.