Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
Business

Mars recalls chocolate bars in 55 countries over contamination fears

Mars has recalled millions of its bars over fears they contain pieces of plastic. Photo / Getty Images
Mars has recalled millions of its bars over fears they contain pieces of plastic. Photo / Getty Images

Mars has recalled chocolate bars and other products in 55 countries, mainly in Europe, after bits of plastic were found in a Snickers bar in Germany.

All of the recalled products - which include Mars, Snickers and Milky Way bars - were manufactured at a Dutch factory in Veghel, according to a Mars spokeswoman on Tuesday.

The recall follows a complaint on January 8 from a consumer in Germany who found red plastic in a Snickers bar and sent it back to the company.

But a Mars New Zealand spokeswoman said most of the company's New Zealand chocolate products are made in Australia.

"This withdrawal does not affect us," she said.

Because Mars cannot guarantee there is no plastic in other products made at the Veghel factory, it is recalling everything made there during a specific period, the spokeswoman said.

A statement posted earlier on the website of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority said Mars was recalling Snickers, Mars, Milky Way, Celebrations and Mini Mix after a piece of plastic was found in one of its products that could cause choking. Mars Netherlands said it was working closely with the Dutch food safety authority on the matter.

The privately held company earlier said it had recalled products in Germany.

"We want to avoid having consumers who bought one of the [affected] products consume them," Mars said on its German website.

It said the recall affected all Mars and Snickers products, Milky Way Minis and Miniatures as well as certain kinds of Celebrations confectionery boxes with best-before dates ranging from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

The company declined to comment on the financial implications of the recall.

Mars is privately held and based in McLean, Virginia. It also owns the world's largest chewing gum maker, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company.

The Mars family owns the secretive company, making it one of the wealthiest families in the US, according to business research company Hoover's.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.