Swiss residents in the town of Olten were surprised this week when it appeared to be snowing cocoa powder outside their doors.
The chocolatey surprise was caused by a malfunction in the ventilation system at the Lindt & Spruengli chocolate factory which left a fine dusting of cocoa over the town.
The Swiss chocolate company says the defect appeared in the roasting line of cocoa nibs, the pieces of crushed cocoa beans which form the basis of their chocolate products.
A strong wind caused the powder to scatter across the nearby streets of the factory. One car was lightly coated and the company has offered to pay for cleaning, however, the owner has yet to take up the offer.
Photos shared on social media show surfaces covered in the cocoa powder.
Kakao-Regen im Oltner Industriequartier: Lüftungsanlage ist schuld daran https://t.co/O9Iorni5Iz pic.twitter.com/3LWZCsHeE0
— Olten (@olten) August 15, 2020
The ventilation system was soon repaired and production at the factory continued as normal.
Olten, which has a population of about 16,000, is located between Zurich and Basel.
