THE reason Cadbury pulled hot chocolate from shop shelves has been revealed.
Shoppers were hit with shortages of the drinking chocolate at the end of last year after it was withdrawn from sale over quality concerns.
Even cafes were struggling to get stock in ahead of the busy Christmas period.
Cadbury didn’t say any more at the time other than “in some instances the texture and colour of the product may not look as expected”.
The chocolatier confirmed the winter warmer was back on shelves at the end of December, although some customers are still saying the iconic treat is tricky to get hold of in shops.
However, customers have been sharing pictures of tubs to social media showing MOULD inside.
Cadbury has replied to posts saying it is aware of an ongoing “quality issue”.
One customer, posting a picture of the inside of the container, said: “I found what looked like mould in a new tin of Cadbury hot chocolate.”
Another commented: “I contacted you re mould in a can of Drinking Chocolate, but you’ve not replied!”
And a third said: “When I opened and unsealed it I was shocked to find what looks very much like mould spots on the top of the powder!”
A spokesperson from Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, said: “Ensuring our consumers enjoy consistently high-quality Cadbury products is of paramount importance to us. We identified a food quality issue in Cadbury Drinking Chocolate products late last year, meaning in some instances the texture and colour of the product may not have looked as expected, and the product was swiftly withdrawn from retailers.”
It added that the product was safe to consume but that it was a quality issue.
The spokesperson added: “Should anyone not be fully satisfied with the quality of a Cadbury Drinking Chocolate product they purchased, we’d ask them to contact our consumer care team for assistance.”
If you have a tub of Cadbury hot chocolate at home that you are are unhappy with you can contact its customer care team for support.
It’s common practice for companies to withdraw products from shelves over quality or health concerns.
Last month, Primark issued an urgent recall of Lilo and Stitch-themed kids bags that posted a choking risk.
The bags came with zip pullers that may have detached, leading to a child eating and potentially choking on it.
The Range also recently issued an urgent recall of a popular energy-saving gadget.
The discount retailer warned the Teddy Sherpa electric throw could overheat and catch fire.
Before Christmas, pharmacy chain Boots told shoppers to bring back a faulty Christmas gift over “risk of burn” fears.
The Radley Cosy Up mug and sock set was recalled as the base of the mug could crack and break into pieces when used.
Another festive product was also urgently recalled over injury fears.
John Lewis was forced to recall the Quality Street Sweet Glass Baubles due to their resemblance to the chocolates.
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know.
Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you – the customer – to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don’t there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work – such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
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