Consumers are being warned not to buy risky fake 'Wonka Bar' chocolates which are being sold in shops and online across the UK.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) food regulator says many counterfeit bars are unsafe to eat, as they are being made by shadowy businesses that do not obey food hygiene laws.
Some of the fake bars spotted by the FSA even contained ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction which were not listed on their packaging.
Wonka Bars were first dreamt up by famous author Roald Dahl, who mentioned them in his much-loved children's' story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
In the story, the character Charlie finds a special golden ticket inside a Wonka Bar which lets him visit the magical sweet factory owned by Willy Wonka.
They were then created in real life by sweetmaker Nestle, which sold the brand to Ferrero.
But in a shocking turn of events, it has emerged that fake Wonka Bars are being sold as real ones, with counterfeiters exploiting Brits' familarity with the brand.
The Mirror understands some of the counterfeit 'Wonka Bars' are being made by people re-wrapping other chocolate in new packaging, then selling it as a legit Wonka Bar.
Other dodgy 'Wonka Bars' may be being made from scratch then sold as the real deal.
These are being sold online, as well as in physical retailers like dedicated candy shops.
FSA head of incidents Tina Potter said: "With Easter less than a month away, it is more important than ever that parents and grandparents are aware of the risks that these bogus chocolate bars could pose to their children, particularly those living with a food allergy or intolerance.
“There is no way of knowing what ingredients are in these bars or what food hygiene practices are being followed by the people making or repackaging them.
“If you have bought these knock-off bars, do not eat them or give them to friends and family.”
The FSA added: "Any Wonka-branded chocolate which does not feature the official ‘Ferrero’ or ‘Ferrara Candy Company’ trademarks on the label is likely to be a counterfeit product and there is no way to know if it is safe to eat. and there is no way to know if it is safe to eat."
The food regulator is still investigating, and is urging the public to help by reporting suspicious bars to shops and to their local councils.
Local authorities have also been asked by the FSA to investigate and remove any fake Wonka Bars they find.
