The beloved premium chocolate brand Lindt is under public scrutiny following a disturbing incident reported by a customer, who discovered maggots inside one of the brand’s popular chocolate products.
Mellissa Ngcobo, a resident of Durban, recently bought a pack of Lindt chocolates from Dischem, a well-known retail store located in Gateway Mall. According to Ngcobo, the chocolates appeared fresh, with the expiration date clearly marked as 2025. However, her experience quickly took an unsettling turn.
“I didn’t notice initially that they were spoiled because I bought a variety pack, which comes with different flavours—dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hazelnut, etc.,”
Ngcobo explained.
The problem only became evident when she reached for the hazelnut-flavoured chocolate.
“I had a few of them, and then when I opened the hazelnut flavour on November 14, that’s when I noticed they were spoiled; maggots were popping out of it,”
she said.
@mellissagngcobo I opened the rest of the chocolates and more worms to find 🤢 @Dis-Chem #viralvideos #trendingvideo #trendingsong #kzntiktok #durban #gateway ♬ original sound – Sthuli Sasengweni
After making the alarming discovery, Ngcobo decided to share her experience online. She posted a video on social media, capturing the moment when maggots were seen emerging from the chocolates. Her intention was twofold: to alert the company about the issue and to warn fellow consumers of a potential health risk.
Ngcobo’s post quickly garnered attention, prompting a response from Lindt South Africa. The brand reached out to her through Instagram, requesting her to submit a formal complaint.
“We are so sorry to hear that you had an issue with one of our products, as we pride ourselves on our quality,”
Lindt South Africa stated.
“Please make use of our customer service form and be sure to input pictures of your slip as well as of the product so that we can decide on the best way forward,”
the company advised.
Ngcobo, however, faced an unexpected hurdle in the process. As she had already disposed of her purchase receipt, she was unable to provide the documentation Lindt requested. Nonetheless, she proceeded with the complaint and provided proof of payment using a bank statement, which showed the transaction at Dischem. Despite submitting this evidence, she is still awaiting a response from the chocolate maker.
When approached for comment, Zihle George, Lindt’s publicist, indicated that the company could not yet provide an official statement.
“I cannot comment on the matter at this time as I need to first communicate with the client, but I will give an update next week,”
George said.
This incident has raised concerns about food safety, particularly with premium brands that consumers generally trust. In light of the rising cases of food poisoning in South Africa, especially among children, this serves as a stark reminder to always check products before consumption.
It also raises broader questions about quality control within the food industry. Despite Lindt’s reputation for excellence and high-quality standards, such incidents could potentially harm consumer confidence. This is especially concerning when the product’s expiration date is still far off, as it suggests potential issues with storage or handling either at the retail level or during transportation.
