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Nestlé UK & Ireland has announced significant recipe changes to its Toffee Crisp and Blue Riband chocolate bars, a move prompted by soaring cocoa prices and the need for cost management in production.

The reformulations have resulted in the removal of the term 'chocolate' from the product labels, as both bars now fall below the minimum cocoa content required for chocolate designation in the UK.

Under UK regulations, products labelled as milk chocolate must contain at least 20% cocoa solids and 20% milk solids.

Following the recent adjustments, Nestlé has rebranded the coatings of these bars as “smooth milk chocolate flavour coating,” reflecting the new formulation that does not meet the legal standards for chocolate.

A Nestlé spokesperson stated: “We’ve seen significant increases in the cost of cocoa over the past years, making it much more expensive to manufacture our products. We continue to be more efficient and absorb increasing costs where possible. To continue to offer shoppers great value and enjoyment, it is sometimes necessary to adjust the recipes of some of our products.”

Cocoa prices have surged due to supply chain disruptions and climate-related challenges, prompting brands to rethink their recipes and labelling strategies to maintain profitability while still appealing to consumers.

Nestlé’s decision follows similar actions by other companies, including Pladis, which recently removed chocolate from its Digestives brand.

This trend raises important questions about transparency and product identity in the food and beverage sector, as consumers may become wary of products that no longer align with their expectations of traditional definitions.

Nestlé has noted that these updates are specific to the Toffee Crisp and Blue Riband ranges, with no plans to implement similar changes across its other chocolate products.