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Sales ban lathered on chocolate doppelganger

09-Jan-2012

Related topics: Legislation

The European Commission has ordered a sales ban on a bar of soap deemed to be too similar to a chocolate bar.

Israeli firm Sabon’s cube shaped soap "Sweet Bath Oil Bar" and its packaging has been judged to be much like a real bar of white chocolate following concerns raised by applicant country Romania.

The Commission said: “The product poses a risk of choking as, due to its characteristic form, appearance, colour and size, (the small divided portions) the product may be mistaken for a foodstuff.“

The word ‘chocolate’ is present on the packaging near a picture of a bath.

The Commission said the product was not compliant with Directive 87/357/EEC, which relates to products that appear to be something else and could thus endanger the health and safety of consumers.