Search This Blog

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Mars 'Snickers' recalled in 55 Countries

During the ‘Jubilee Test’ back in February, 1980, England were in dire straits when Taylor was adjudged caught behind by umpire Jiban Dhan Ghosh off Kapil Dev’s bowling. However, captain Gundappa Viswanath asked Taylor whether he nicked it and the English batsman replied in negative. The Indian captain then recalled him  !  ~ do you know that Viswanath captained India in ODI only once !!

Sure you know of Cocoa bean……..most people are addicted to chocolates, made of cocoa bean.... the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of ‘Theobroma cacao’, from which cocoa solids and cocoa butter are extracted. A cocoa pod (fruit) has a rough and leathery rind about 3 cm thick (this varies with the origin and variety of pod). It is filled with sweet, mucilaginous pulp (called 'baba de cacao' in South America) enclosing 30 to 50 large seeds that are fairly soft and white to a pale lavender color. While seeds are usually white, they become violet or reddish brown during the drying process. Republic of Ghana,  located in Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, in West Africa is famous for cocoa beans.   There are many popular brands.  Toblerone  is a Swiss chocolate bar brand owned by Mondelēz International, Inc.,  It is well known for its distinctive prism shape (triangular prism or pentahedron). 

A product recall is a request to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or product defects that might endanger the consumer or put the maker/seller at risk of legal action. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence which can cause significant legal costs and limit ruination of the corporate image.  Primarily any product can be recalled and that includes the automobiles too. An automotive recall is a way for a manufacturer to tell you that there could be something about your car or  vehicle that presents a risk of injury or property damage.  The  recalls are intended to fix known problems with vehicles in an effort to keep roadways, the vehicle, the owner, driver and other road users  safer. 

U.S. confectionery giant Mars has ordered a full recall of a number of its most popular chocolate bars in the UK, and several other European nations, reports MailOnline. 

Customers are warned not to eat any Mars or Snickers bars or Celebration boxes with best before dates from June 2016 to January 2017, as they may contain plastic. The massive recall covers millions of products sold in 55 countries, including Britain, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain, which are all made at Mars Inc's factory in the Netherlands.

The recall initially covered products sold in Germany and the Netherlands, before being extended to Britain, Italy, Spain and France on Tuesday afternoon, as well as dozens of other countries. The recall affected all Mars and Snickers products, Milky Way Minis and Miniatures as well as certain kinds of Celebrations confectionery boxes. The concerned products will have best-before dates ranging from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

According to a Coordinator, there are 55 countries involved,'  and the recall 'only involves the products that are made in the Netherlands', at the Mars factory in the southern town of Veghel.  The move comes after a customer found a red piece of plastic in a Snickers bar bought on January 8 in Germany.  After he complained to Mars, the plastic was traced back to Veghel which determined that it came from a protective cover used in the plant's manufacturing process.

The  food giant  decided in a 'voluntary' fashion and 'out of precaution' to issue the recall which covers mostly European nations It also spreads further abroad to some countries like Sri Lanka and Vietnam, but does not extend to the United States, it is stated… web searches indicate that India is not among the countries of recall. 

Mars introduced Snickers way back in 1930; it was  named after the favourite horse of the Mars family. The Snickers candy bar consists of nougat, peanuts, and caramel with a chocolate coating.

Getting back to the Q on Vishwanath, he was at the helm for only once – in ODI no. 117 at Hamilton on 15th Feb 1981 when New Zealand beat India by 57 runs.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

23rd Feb 2016.

No comments:

Post a Comment