Ban on chocolates in Kerala

The Kerala State Health Department has banned the sale of two batches each of Cadbury and Nestle chocolates, after worms were detected in them.

Food inspectors searching shops in Parassala, near the capital Thiruvananthapuram, and Pattom in the city, found that chocloate bars of batch 'INRORAS W-6' of Nestle and '245313' of Cadbury's, both manufactured in June 2003, were infested with worms.

State Health Director Dr V K Rajan said food inspectors across the state have been instructed to search for and seize chocolates of these two branches, and to intensify the examination of other products of confectionary majors.

Shop owners have been instructed to store chocolates and confectionaries in hygenic conditions to prevent contamination, Rajan said.

Complaints of live worms crawling in bars of chocolates were reported from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi last week.