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Cadbury cave to consumer pressure

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Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:00a.m.

Cadbury say the change back to cocoa butter will occur in the next few weeks

Cadbury say the change back to cocoa butter will occur in the next few weeks

By Chris Whitworth

Cadbury has apologised to consumers and announced they have stopped using palm oil in their dairy milk chocolate.

The iconic confectionary company came under fire when it was revealed they had swapped cocoa butter for vegetable fat including palm oil.

Palm oil has been lambasted by environmental groups who say its plantations contribute to global warming and the destruction of orang-utan habitats overseas.

Cadbury New Zealand managing director Matthew Oldham says the decision was in response to consumer pressure and hundreds of complaints.

“At the time, we genuinely believed we were making the right decision, for the right reasons. But we got it wrong,” he said.

Mr Oldham says he hopes the New Zealand public can forgive Cadbury.

He said the change back to cocoa butter will occur in the next few weeks.

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Comments

31 Aug 2009 04:47p.m.

Therese wrote:

Yep, sorry Cadbury, sneakily changing the recipe, changing to smaller bars and squares while hiking up the prices just doesn't fly. And having just 1% over the legal requirement for cocoa in chocolate??? Almost criminal! I don't buy the 'in response to customer preference the smaller squares and faster melting times will stay' line either. I'm a Whittakers convert

17 Aug 2009 06:45p.m.

Sel wrote:

I agree with most of you too - I changed to Whittakers and now won't be going back, its yummy, and good honest chocolate like they say in their ads. Shame on you Cadbury, you had your chance, looks like you've lost alot of customers (including me).

17 Aug 2009 06:19p.m.

rachel wrote:

Yah! I've always loved both cadbury and whittakers until cadbury added palm oil, but you can't buy whittakers chocolate bars in 7 piece bars you can only buy the sante bars which aren't as big. I'm extremely happy cadbury is returning to cocoa butter, it's not chocolate without it.

17 Aug 2009 05:43p.m.

Dave wrote:

Sorry cadbury, you had your chance. It was incredibly rude of you to try and scam the public with your downsized bars and palm oil. Your corporate greed will be your downfall. Too late. Im staying with whitakers

17 Aug 2009 01:57p.m.

Blair Rogers wrote:

Good on Cadbury for backing down to consumer pressure. Unfortunately the horse has already bolted for me. Been a Whittakers fan for a while. Their big blocks have more cocoa solids and are 50g bigger than Cadbury. Plus it's a NZ owned company, not an oversea's multinational.

17 Aug 2009 01:55p.m.

John wrote:

Do people realise that our agricultural industry also imports Palm Kernel, which is derived from the exact same trees, as a feed for livestock??
Will people now boycott Agriculutral products and chastise the agricultural industry??
I dare say they won't......
I wonder why no one has highlighted this??

17 Aug 2009 01:15p.m.

Liz wrote:

Nah Cadbury doesn't taste as good as other brands, its all sugar and fat taste and no yummy chocolate flavour.

17 Aug 2009 01:02p.m.

Choccy wrote:

Without cocoa butter could it even have been called "chocolate"? I'm disgusted too and will stick with Whittakers thanks

17 Aug 2009 12:42p.m.

Pam McKenzie wrote:

I too have loved your chocolate for about over 40years and now living in WA for over a year I have found your chocolate tastes diffrent so I was going to the Kiwi shop and paying good money for your NZ made chocolate when told that it all is made here in Australia.I was getting family in NZ to send your family blocks,easter eggs and other chocolate items we can not get here over with friends and family when they visit, when I was told of the change and that most of it now was made here and it tasted diffrent. They were just starting to send me the Whittaker's bands over. Hopefully the taste will be better again.

17 Aug 2009 12:40p.m.

Rebecca wrote:

Too late! I tried Whittaker's and love it. You only need a few pieces to get your fix - real chocolate! You snoozed Cadbury