The amount of Nutella produced in a day could provide every person in San Diego with one jar -- which might be greatly appreciated, as World Nutella Day celebrates its sixth anniversary on Sunday, February 5.

The delicious spread dates back to WWII-era Italy, when there was a shortage of cocoa. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero company, created a chocolate product using mainly hazelnuts and a bit of cocoa, to stretch out the supply. He called it “pasta gianduja,” “pasta” meaning paste and “gianduja” referring to an Italian carnival character. Pasta Gianduja was packaged in loaves, then later modified into Supercrema Gianduja, a more spreadable version sold in jars. In 1964, the spread was renamed “Nutella.”

Today, Nutella is enjoyed in over 75 countries and has gained massive popularity since it was first imported to the United States in 1983. To writers Sara Rosso and Michelle Fabio, it made perfect sense, then, to dedicate an entire day to the chocolate treat. Both Americans living in Italy, the two took to the Internet to spread the word about their new holiday.

Contributions from food bloggers and impromptu Nutella chefs alike have been spread through their website World Nutella Day and social media, resulting in the worldwide phenomenon we have six years later.

But not everyone seems to be riding the Nutella train. San Diego mother Athena Hohenberg has filed a lawsuit against the Fererro company for misleading advertising. One of the product’s biggest selling points is its appeal to children, who often don’t appreciate healthy foods like whole grain toast without something more enticing, like a smear of Nutella. Hohenberg claims she was "shocked to learn that Nutella was in fact, not 'healthy, nutritious' food, but instead was the next best thing to a candy bar, and that Nutella contains dangerous level of saturated fat." Hoping that her case will turn into a class action suit, Hohenberg is seeking refunds for “all persons who purchased on or after January 2000 one or more Nutella products in the United States for their own or household use."

The Nutella website boasts the spread’s “wholesome ingredients” and encourages use “in moderation.”

World Nutella Day is an international event that encourages everyone to eat a spoonful of Nutella, document their love of Nutella on the blogosphere, and use Nutella in creative ways.

Inspiration can be found in The Unofficial Guide to Nutella, written by Sara Rosso and Michelle Fabio, the co-hosts of World Nutella Day, and the official website http://www.nutelladay.com/ , both bursting with recipes and inventive ideas. Also check out San Diego food blog Kirbie's Cravings for dozens of Nutella-based desserts. Users on the social networking site Tumblr have also set up a popular blog F*** Yeah Nutella Recipes dedicated entirely to Nutella receipes.

If you would rather leave the cooking to someone else, try a few San Diego restaurants boasting Nutella dishes. Chocolat Cremerie in Gaslamp has received rave reviews for its sweet crepes stuffed with Nutella and other fillings, and prepared by “Mamma Luisa,” an Italian crepe maestro. In Little Italy and Hillcrest, San Diegans flock to Pappalecco for the romantic Italian atmosphere and stay for the rich, authentic Nutella gelato. And Caffe Vergnano 1882 in Hillcrest serves up Marocchino Bicolore, a latte of half Nutella and half white chocolate.

Whatever your preference, join the international celebration and enjoy World Nutella Day 2012!