Bug-infested cocoa shipment forces Brazil to suspend Ivorian imports – reports

Brazil has temporarily suspended imports from the world’s biggest cocoa grower Ivory Coast after bugs were found in a 10,000 tonne cocoa shipment, according to reports.

Nestlé and Cargill are understood to have been the buyers of the bug ridden cocoa, according to local media and reports from Reuters.

Four or five bug types were found in the shipment; all native to both Brazil and The Ivory Coast.

Reuters quotes a Brazilian agriculture ministry press officer as saying: "Until it is proven that the produce coming from Ivory Coast is in conformity with Brazil's phytosanitary requirements, (the import of) produce coming from this country is suspended.”

The Ivory Coast has launched an investigation to discover the source.

Nestlé recently reported double digit chocolate and confectionery sales growth in Latin America, following the launch of Kit-Kat in Brazil.