Cadbury has defended its decision to alter the taste of its Time Out bars, saying its new recipe reflected consumer demand.
Customers have taken their displeasure online after the manufacturer modified how the chocolate bar – first sold in 1992 – is made.
Time Out has already been through changes, with packaging restyled and then reverting to its original look in 2010, while in 2016 the recipe was changed to be more wafer-orientated with less chocolate.
Cadbury stated: "People's tastes change from time to time, so it's important that we have a wide range of products to cater for everyone."
The manufacturer has said the bar will not be reverting to its former recipe, despite being met with protests online.
"hi is there any chances of bringing back the original time out bar ? These are just not the same and depressing:(, Tweeted one dissatisfied customer.
@CadburyUK hi is there any chances of bringing back the original time out bar ? These are just not the same and depressing:( #chocolate #90s pic.twitter.com/3KFVV6OoDo
— thefirstmanwho (@adamlev09_adam) January 24, 2024
While another commented: “The original obviously tasted better."Cadbury is not the first to change a recipe, with Mars and Snickers both being modified in 2018 under a plan to make them healthier.
Meanwhile, the company was one of several identified by Which? last year to be selling chocolate boxes before Christmas at a marked-up price.
The most reported example of recent times is Toblerone, which has been reduced in size the UK – with the 400g bar becoming 360g and the 170g now 150g.
Time Out has also been modified over the years to make it healthier and has – unbeknown to many – actually been sold since 2016 as Time Out Wafer. It has only 111 calories and has little sugar compared to its rivals.
A spokesman said in 2016: “We have withdrawn the current brand so the old one has gone and will be replaced. The original Time Out bars started to be withdrawn from sale in February."
