Following political pressure in the UK, British food manufacturer Cadbury Schweppes is reportedly close to including some information about ‘healthy eating’ on the wrapping of its chocolate bars. Not only is this cowardly and patronizing, it also makes no business sense. Once the company concedes, even implicitly, that it has some sort of obligation to tell its customers that they should not gorge themselves senseless on its products, it is opening the door to litigation not only on the fact that it did not include such wording before, but also on the wording that is ultimately used. Note too, that Cadbury’s are not proposing to put similar wording on products distributed internationally. There will be some trial lawyer in, oh, America who will be bound to just love that.

For Cadbury’s, this is a Pandora’s box – even if it is filled with chocolates. The company should scrap any plans to coat its candy with cautions.