Cocoa snow blows over Switzerland - 31st August 2020

Residents of a small Swiss town got a bit of a shock when chocolate started falling from the sky.

The ventilation system of a nearby chocolate factory suffered from a glitch which spewed cocoa nibs out of the factory and onto the wind.

Cocoa nibs, which form the basis of chocolate products, are splinters of crushed cocoa beans.

Chocolatier Lindt & Spruengli explained that a minor defect in its cooling system on the line where nibs are roasted sent cocoa powder pouring from the factory.

Picked up by strong winds, the dust spread to the surrounding town, leaving a tasty layer of chocolate on the ground. The company stressed there was no need for alarm as the particles presented no danger to people or the environment.

With one car receiving a light chocolate coating, Lindt & Spruengli has stressed it would pay for any cleaning required. So far, it has yet to be taken up on the offer.

The malfunctioning ventilation system has since been fixed and chocolate production at the factory has resumed.