Mars orders international recall of millions of chocolate bars from 55 countries including SL

US chocolate maker Mars has ordered a recall of millions of chocolate bars and other products from 55 countries, mostly European,but also extended as far as Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Asia, the company said. The recall was ordered after bits of plastic were found in a Snickers bar in Germany.

A statement from Mars Incorporated said only products labelled with "Mars Netherlands" were affected. All of the recalled products, which include Mars, Snickers Celebrations and Milky Way bars, were manufactured at a Dutch factory in Veghel, according to a Mars spokeswoman.

A statement posted earlier on the website of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority said Mars was recalling Snickers, Mars, Milky Way, Celebrations and Mini Mix boxes after the piece of plastic that could cause choking was found.

The recall follows a January 8 complaint from a consumer in Germany, she said, who found red plastic in a Snickers bar and sent it back to the company. Because Mars cannot guarantee there is no plastic in other products made at the Veghel factory, it is recalling everything made there with best-before dates ranging from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017

Mars Netherlands said it was working closely with the Dutch food safety authority on the matter, according to the statement. The privately held company earlier said it had recalled products in Germany.

"We want to avoid having consumers who bought one of the [affected] products consume them," Mars said in a statement on its German website. The company declined to comment on the financial implications of the recall. (Reuters/AFP)