Nutella has long been loved as a staple food for many families and even considered a healthy option by some. Now, a shocking new viral image shows a jar filled with the 5 main ingredients – sugar, palm oil, cocoa, hazelnuts, and skim milk powder – in their raw form. The surprising picture shows half the jar is filled with sugar.

The image turned up following a recent claim that Nutella contributes to cancer due to its inclusion of palm oil – an oil recently declared to be the most carcinogenic among all oils by the European Food Safety Authority.

Nutella denies the claims, saying that palm oil is a high quality, safe ingredient. Nutella refuses to confirm or deny the contents of the viral picture as they wish to keep the closely guarded recipe a secret. According to nutrition information found on the jars as well as on the company website, there are 8.5 grams of sugar for each 15-gram Tablespoon worth of spread.

This means that each jar of Nutella contains an astonishing 227.2 grams of sugar – well over half of the jar’s total weight.Palm oil, the cheapest oil in the world, accounts for the smooth, creamy texture of the spread and also contributes to longer shelf life.

In response to the controversy, the company’s manufacturer stated that nutrition labels are clearly listed and that smaller portions allow people to consume their favorite foods in moderation.

The company also assures that only high-quality raw materials are utilized along with careful industrial practices and parameters.