US chocolate maker Mars Inc has recalled millions of Mars, Snickers and Milky Way bars in 55 countries in Europe and Asia after a German consumer found a piece of red plastic in a Snickers bar.

The company triggered the recall on Tuesday (AEDT), releasing a statement recalling all product formats of Mars and Snickers, including ‘Celebrations’ packs.

All of the affected products were reportedly manufactured at the same Dutch factory.

Milky Ways may also have been contaminated. Photo: Mars

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“We cannot be sure that this plastic was only in that particular Snickers,” a spokeswoman from Mars Netherlands told AAP.

“We do not want any products on the market that may not meet our quality requirements, so we decided to take them all back.”

Snickers, Mars, Milky Way, Celebrations and Mini Mix products with best-before dates ranging from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017 have reportedly been recalled in the affected countries. There is no known recall in Australia.

Germany, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are reportedly among the affected countries.

Mars, based in the US state of New Jersey, is one of the world’s biggest food companies, with 29 chocolate brands including M&M’s, Galaxy, Twix, Bounty and Maltesers. It also makes Wrigley gum, Uncle Ben’s Rice, Dolmio pasta sauce and Pedigree pet food.

It is a privately held company, which means it does not publicly report financial data to any stock exchange. Thus, the cost of the recall is unlikely to be disclosed.

-with AAP