Cadbury's Creme Eggs have become the latest product to face a backlash after its US owner changed the chocolate recipe. The shell is now made from 'standard, traditional Cadbury milk chocolate' rather than Dairy Milk, prompting online complaints.
Mondelez International, owned by Kraft Foods, is also altering pack sizes, introducing five-egg packs alongside singles and 12-packs, replacing the previous three and six-packs. A spokesman said the fundamentals remain the same, with delicious milk chocolate and the unique creme centre, and that the eggs have never been advertised as using Dairy Milk.
This is not the first time a recipe change has caused controversy. Coca-Cola's New Coke in 1985, Kellogg's Special K in 2013, and Cadbury's own Milk Tray in 2012 all faced consumer backlash. Twinings also reversed a change to its Earl Grey recipe in 2011 after complaints.
Other changes include United Biscuits reducing fat in McVitie's Digestives in 2009 and Heinz cutting salt in HP Sauce in 2010. The latter prompted Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White to send back his sausages and mash at a London pub.
