British man wins $3.91 compensation for ‘smooth’ Mars bar defect

A UK man has received $3.91 in compensation and an apology after purchasing a Mars bar that was lacking its signature ripple.

A UK man has received £2 ($3.91) in compensation and an apology after purchasing a Mars bar without its signature ripple.

Harry Seager became an internet sensation when he bought the chocolate bar at an Oxfordshire service station earlier this month, only to unwrap it and find the sweet was “smooth” in texture.

The 34-year-old broadcaster shared a photo of the bar to the Dull Men’s Club Facebook page, where it generated interest from thousands of members who labelled it, among other things, as “hideous”.

Mr Seager said he initially thought the lack of ripple was a cost-cutting measure by Mars Wrigley UK, the global food giant that produces the confectionary.

A UK man has received $3.91 in compensation and an apology after purchasing a Mars bar that was lacking its signature ripple. Picture: SWNS/Harry Seager

How are Mars bar traditionally looks.

Among the respondents to his Facebook post were “a few people who used to work at Mars’ factories”, who commented on the photo and explained the chocolates go “through a machine called an enrober, which is like the waterfall the bars go through”.

“Apparently they get blown with air along the top as it comes out of that waterfall,” Mr Seager told the BBC.

“Apparently there’s meant to be somebody at the end who removes the ones which haven’t been hit by the air.

“I don’t know what happens to them then. I suppose they got put into products that have Mars bars in (them), like cakes and things.”

Harry Seager bought the chocolate from a service station in Oxfordshire earlier this month. Picture: Harry Seager/SWNS

He reached out to the company, who informed him this specific bar had “slipped” through its production line and confirmed the ripple was still a feature.

“The only reason I emailed (Mars) was because I was interested in what might have caused it to happen,” Mr Seager said.

“That is all I want to know, and they kept sidelining that question.”

Rather than answer his specific line of questioning, Mr Seager said the manufacturer instead offered him compensation the minimal compensation – with which he intended to buy more Mars bars.

“I think £2 is great, it will be two free Mars bars. Maybe they could have sent me more but I’m not being ungrateful,” he said.

“I think it’s amazing after everything that’s happened that I got the £2 voucher.”