Columbia College students have been consuming and stealing large amounts of Nutella from the school's dining hall. Since Nutella became available to students, Columbia's Dining Services administrators say students have consumed up to 100 pounds of it on a daily basis.
Nutella, the 25-year-old hazelnut spread made from a combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and chocolate is pretty popular on campus. The high demand of the chocolate-hazelnut spread has cost the school $5,000 a week since it became available on Feb. 11, according to administrators.
One member of the Columbia College Student Council said that the students were removing the Nutella from the dining hall using to-go cups. Dining Services would end up spending $250,000 a year if the pattern were to continue.
An updated report in the Columbia Spectator suggests that the amount quoted may have been exaggerated. According to the report, the amount spent on Nutella was $2,500 for the first few days and has declined to $450 per week.
The rate at which the Nutella was disappearing was shocking to school officials.
"Couldn't really believe it either, just how much they were going through the stuff," said Peter Bailinson, Columbia College Student Council representative.
"Students have been filling cups of Nutella to-go in Ferris Booth Commons and taking the full jars out of John Jay, which means we're going through product faster than anticipated," said Vicki Dunn, executive director of Dining Services.
"People love their Nutella, people are going to go crazy, I'm not surprised. From a purely economical perspective, if we decide we want to have more of this, the dining hall will have to raise the prices," said student Charles Sanky.
Columbia's Dining Services said it doesn't plan on discontinuing the Nutella, but may not be so fast to offer more of what are considered luxury items that may spark high demand.
