Can you imagine waking up to a town covered in chocolate?
Residents of a Swiss town got to live the fantasy and experience a Willy Wonka moment, when it started snowing particles of a fine cocoa powder after the ventilation system at a chocolate factory malfunctioned.
READ MORE
Scientists build methanol-powered beetle bot to help navigate environments too dangerous for human
Michigan man sets world record by climbing one million stairs in honour of his dead wife
Depression in UK doubles during pandemic, official data shows
The world famous Lindt & Spruengli company confirmed local reports on Tuesday that there was a minor defect in the cooling ventilation for a line for roasted “cocoa nibs” in its factory in Olten, between Zurich and Basel.
The nibs, fragments of crushed cocoa beans, are the basis of chocolate.
A surface in the town of Olten covered in cocoa dust. Twitter
Combined with strong winds on Friday morning, the powder spread around the immediate vicinity of the factory, leaving a fine cocoa dusting.
The company says one car was lightly coated, and that it has offered to pay for any cleaning needed — but hasn’t yet been taken up on the offer.
Factory production was able to continue as normal and the company says the particles were completely harmless to people or the environment.
The ventilation system has now been repaired.