Contaminant in snickers bar likened to pest poison

SYDNEY - A contaminated Snickers bar received by food manufacturer Masterfoods had been laced with a substance similar to pest poison and could be potentially harmful to children, NSW Police say.

A scientific report on the chocolate bar sent to Masterfoods, along with extortion threats, was inconclusive in defining the contaminant but revealed the substance was similar in appearance to a number of commercially available pest poisons, a police statement said.

All Snickers and Mars Bars in NSW were recalled by Masterfoods last Friday after the company received extortion letters claiming seven bars had been contaminated.

Over the weekend 19 people who had consumed the products had called the company's hotline complaining of illness. Two had sought hospital treatment.

Masterfoods yesterday again warned the NSW public not to eat the popular chocolate bars after learning a 15-year-old boy had suffered "flu-like symptoms" after taking one bite of the Snickers bar he bought at Seven Hills railway station.

Following receipt of a letter and a contaminated Snickers bar by Masterfoods, police conducted an interim report.

"The interim report does state if consumption of a similar amount of the contaminant - as found in the infected bar - were to occur, then ill-effects cannot be ruled out in people of small body mass, such as children who are potentially the most vulnerable," the statement said.

"The contaminated Snickers bar is currently undergoing further analysis in NSW in an effort to positively identify the contaminant."

- AAP