Warning issued against fake Wonka, Prime chocolate bars

Consumers have been warned not to buy or eat fake branded Wonka or Prime chocolate bars over fears they could be unsafe.

The  Food Standards Agency’s warning comes after it has received reports of fake branded chocolate on sale. It is working with Trading Standards to protect consumers. It added there was a possibility that the chocolate bars were being made or repackaged by unregistered businesses or by criminals who had not followed hygiene, labelling and traceability laws.

Tina Potter, Head of Incidents – Food Standards Agency, said today (4), “With Christmas coming up, don’t waste your money on fake branded chocolate for your children, friends or family – you won’t be getting what you think you are paying for and you don’t know what is in them.  There could be a food safety risk, especially for those with food intolerances or allergies.   

“We know there is a problem with potentially unsafe fake chocolate bars such as Wonka and Prime bars and we’re working with Trading Standards to protect consumers.  

“Please do not buy or eat these bars and if you think you’ve bought a fake chocolate bar, or if you see something that does not seem right when you are shopping, report it to your Local Authority.”

Last year, fake Wonka Bars were removed from sale after having been found to contain allergens which weren’t listed on the label, posing a major health risk to anyone who suffers from a food allergy or intolerance.

The Food Standards Agency is continuing to work with partners to protect the public. Letters have been sent to local authorities responsible for investigating and enforcing food law to advise them to be extra vigilant and remove any fake products from sale where there is a known or suspected public health risk.

Noteworthy here is that Prime only makes drinks and they have told FSA that they have not manufactured any Prime-branded foods.

FSA added that if Wonka bar in a shop, online or on a market stall, is not a real thing. The ingredients list might not be correct, and allergen labels may not have been applied correctly.