Mumbai: Chocolate major Cadbury on October 14 said the process of manufacture of chocolate is such that growth of fungus was not possible. However, fungus found on the surface of the chocolate was a result of high humidity in the environment during monsoon which creates condensation on the surface.

On reports in a section of the media that fungus was found on a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate in a city suburb, managing director of the company, Bharat Puri, said, "We will be able to test this bar only after we receive it."

In a statement on October 14, he also claimed that their packaging of this range of chocolate has held the company in good stead for over three decades.

"But as a concerned company that has remained committed to quality for over 55 years, we have, proactively, initiated immediate steps to further strengthen our existing packaging to virtually eliminate the isolated possibilities of infestation during storage and distribution," he added.

Puri said Cadbury chocolates reach out to over 650,000 retailers directly and indirectly and in spite of every care being taken at the manufacturing stage, "chocolate is a food product that requires specific care and attention in storage".

"We would therefore, advise all consumers to exercise the same level of care and caution in their purchase of chocolate, as they would with any other food product," Puri said.

Cadbury re-affirmed that it would continue to partner with its distributors and retailers to ensure that quality products are delivered to their "valued" customers.

PTI