Wonka bars health warning issued over counterfeit risk

Consumers have been warned not to buy or eat Wonka-branded chocolate bars due to an increase in reports of counterfeit bars bearing its brand name, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has said.

The FSAI said the counterfeit chocolate bars may be unsafe to eat, as there was a possibility they had not been produced in line with food safety, hygiene and/or food traceability legal requirements to protect public health.

Issues identified to date with the counterfeit bars include failure to provide an accurate ingredients list and allergens on the label.

False business names and addresses, the rewrapping of various shop-bought bars as Wonka bars, and the selling of the product by unregistered businesses were among the other issues identified by the authority.

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Food inspectors

FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne urged consumers to be aware of the "possible risks" posed by the counterfeit chocolate bars.

“The FSAI is working closely with the food inspectors in the Environmental Health Service of the HSE to ensure any counterfeit Wonka-branded chocolate bars where there is a known or suspected consumer health risk are removed from sale,” Dr Byrne said.

“Consumers have a right to safe food, and counterfeit foodstuffs will be pursued using the legal powers available to us.”