Popular Cadbury product withdrawn due to ‘quality issues’ – but disgruntled customers are still complaining about ‘fuzzy mould’

with-font”>Chocoholics will be keenly aware that there was a shortage of Cadbury‘s Drinking Chocolate over the festive period.

The indulgent hot chocolate powder was pulled from supermarket shelves at the end of 2024 over ‘quality’ concerns.

At the time, Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury, confirmed that they identified a ‘food quality issue’ in some tubs, meaning that ‘the texture and colour of the product may not look as expected’.

They added: ‘As a result, we have swiftly withdrawn affected products from retailers, to make specific improvements to future production.’

Despite reassurances that all Cadbury products were ‘safe to consume’, shoppers took to social media armed with pictures of ‘unusual’ white specks nestled amongst their hot chocolate powder.

Some even claimed that their Cadbury Drinking Chocolate was riddled with ‘mould’. 

Taking to X, one disgruntled user said: ‘I found what looked like mould in a new tin of Cadbury hot chocolate.’

Another tweeted: ‘This happened to me twice now. Two brand new tubs bought at separate times. Disgusting!’

Cadbury’s hot chocolate powder was pulled from supermarket shelves at the end of 2024 over ‘quality’ concerns.

A third shared a similar horrifying experience and said: ‘Little fuzzy moulds growing in what was a sealed tall tub of hot chocolate powder with a best before date in 2026, and the powder has suspiciously vanished from all stores so I can‘t replace it.’

Replying to the dissatisfied customer on X, Cadbury UK said: ‘Hi there. We are aware of an issue with our current supply of Cadbury Hot Chocolate, however they are still completely safe to consume.

‘If you are unsatisfied, please do get in contact with our customer service team.’ 

‘That’s fuzzy mould,’ the user replied. ‘[Cadbury’s customer service] asked for pictures and then stopped replying.’

A spokesperson from Mondelez told FEMAIL that ensuring customers enjoy ‘consistently high-quality’ Cadbury products is of ‘paramount importance’.

‘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in some instances the texture and colour of the product may not have looked as expected, and the product was swiftly withdrawn from retailers,’ said the spokesperson.

‘Whilst this was a quality issue – meaning all existing Hot Chocolate products are completely safe to consume – the consistency of our products is vitally important to us.’

They 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.’

A disgruntled shopper shared a picture of what they describe as ‘little fuzzy moulds’ in their hot chocolate powder

Another Cadbury’s customer warned of the ‘white unusual pieces’ in the Cadbury’s tub

Replying to the disgruntled customer on X, Cadbury UK said: ‘Hi there. We are aware of an issue with our current supply of Cadbury Hot Chocolate, however they are still completely safe to consume’

After the withdrawal, Mondelez International confirmed to MailOnline that Cadbury Drinking Chocolate started to be re-stocked in major retailers in December.

Perhaps Buckingham Palace was also affected by the product withdrawal as King Charles axed Cadbury’s 170-year royal warrant late last year.

The chocolate juggernaut was first awarded its warrant in 1854 by Queen Victoria and it remained a staple in the royal diet, surviving through the reign of six monarchs since.

It is understood that the late Queen loved Cadbury’s Bourneville so much, she received boxes of it every Christmas.

Almost 400 companies were in the latest round of warrants announced this week, with Charles keeping 386 granted by his mother, ranging from Kellogg’s cereal to Moet champagne. Those unsuccessful, like Cadbury, were told by letter.

As is protocol, the brands were not given a reason why.

The warrants are awarded in recognition of the supply of goods or services to the royal household and senior Royal Family members.

It is understood the supply of Cadbury products to royal households has decreased over several years. 

King Charles axed Cadbury’s 170-year royal warrant in December. Pictured: A bust of King Charles III made entirely from chocolates to mark the Coronation

The King is also known for his healthy eating, preferring a piece of fruit or fibre-rich seeds over a bar of chocolate. 

Cadbury said it was ‘disappointed’ to lose its royal warrant. Consumer goods firm Unilever, whose products include Marmite, Magnum ice cream bars and pot noodle, was also stripped of its warrant.

Last year, Charles was urged by campaign group B4Ukraine to take warrants from companies ‘still operating in Russia’ after the invasion of Ukraine, naming Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, and Unilever.

A Mondelez International spokesperson said: ‘Whilst we are disappointed to be one of hundreds of other businesses and brands in the UK to not have a new warrant awarded, we are proud to have previously held one, and we fully respect the decision.’

It comes after the company’s recent takeover by an American snack giant led to claims Cadbury had ‘betrayed its heritage’, by introducing bizarre new recipes and shrinking bars – while outsourcing its chocolate production abroad.