A “limited number” of Cadbury Caramilk chocolate blocks have been recalled just two weeks after the retro treat made a popular comeback to Australian stores earlier this month.

All Caramilk 190-gram blocks with a best-before date of January 17, 2019, or January 21, 2019, have been recalled due to a number of products found to contain small pieces of plastic.

The plastic contamination was blamed on a machinery fault during the manufacturing process.

Cadbury Caramilk products that meet the recall criteria have been sold in Coles, Woolworths, IGA and independent grocery stores (VIC only) in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued a warning that Cadbury Caramilk products containing plastic may cause “minor injury” if consumed but did not pose a serious health or food safety risk.

“Consumers should not consume the affected product and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund – no proof-of-purchase required,” the FSANZ said.

Mondelez International, which owns Cadbury, told The New Daily the recall affects 280,000 of the 750,000 blocks distributed to Australian stores as a limited edition.

The company received 16 complaints from Australian consumers who found plastic in their chocolates.

All other Caramilk products sold in Australia with different best-before dates were not affected by the recall and safe for consumption.

The Caramilk craze

The golden blend of caramelised white chocolate returned to Australian supermarket shelves due to popular demand as a limited edition, more than 20 years after it was discontinued in 1994.

The return of Caramilk blocks caused a frenzy among nostalgic consumers who were excited to see their old time favourite treat.

Some were even willing to spend more than $100 on eBay to stock up.

In one example, a seller priced seven blocks for $150 – about $21 each, more than eight times the retail price at supermarkets including Coles and Woolworths.

Cadbury’s Paul Chatfield, associate director of Everyday Chocolate, told The New Daily last week the product was “flying off the shelves” even in its first few days after being re-introduced to Australian stores.

He said the product’s return was solely prompted by customer demand.

“Given the demand from Aussie consumers, we’ve now brought a limited quantity to Australian retailers and feedback from the first stores to have the block on shelf is that they’re disappearing fast,” Mr Chatfield said.

Consumers with queries about the recall can contact the Mondelez International consumer relations centre on 1800 034 241.