Nutella’s controversial list of banned words

Coca Cola’s successful campaign, “Share a Coke“, in which bottles and cans could be personalized with popular names has come to an end internationally, but seems to still be active in SA.

Grub Street reports that Nutella’s new campaign, “Say It With Nutella” was recently launched in France. Users are allowed to put their own message on a Nutella jar label.

Aware that the public might jump at the opportunity to have a crude message emblazoned on a jar of Nutella, parent company, Ferrero, compiled a list of forbidden words.

A visitor to the site viewed the source code and found the entire list of banned words. Some of the list seems rather conservative on European standards; sex acts, ‘poop’ and ‘Hitler’ are on the list, but so are ‘lesbian’, ‘Muslim’ and ‘Jewish’ however, ‘gay’ and ‘Christian’ are accepted. (‘Christian’ is a popular first name in Europe.)

Ferrero disclosed that potentially insulting words and words with negative connotations were removed from the list of possibilities because the idea is to use a jar of Nutella to communicate enthusiasm and positivity.

Ironically, ‘palm oil’ is on the list of prohibited words. This controversial ingredient is what makes Nutella taste so moreish (at the expense of the environment.)

What would you print on your Nutella jar label?

Try these Nutella phyllo cigars to get the ideas flowing.