Biscuit fans are in mourning as two of Britain's favourite chocolate treats can no longer be described as 'chocolate' after a drop in the amount of cocoa used.
The new formula for Club and Penguin, owned by McVitie's has now been downgraded to 'chocolate flavored', meaning its original slogan 'If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit, join our Club' has been forced to retire.
Its new slogan has changed to 'If you like a lot of biscuit in your break, join our Club'.
Skyrocketing costs of cocoa have led the makers of the lunchbox classic to change their recipe without dramatically hitting their customers in the pocket.
Both brands now use more palm oil and shea oil than cocoa solids in their coating.
'We made some changes to McVitie's Penguin and Club earlier this year, where we are using a chocolate flavour coating with cocoa mass rather than a chocolate coating.'
In a statement, the biscuit's Manufacturer, Pladis said despite the change, their customers will still enjoy the product.
'Sensory testing with consumers shows the new coating delivers the same great taste as the originals.'
The price hike in cocoa results from poor harvests from extreme weather conditions over the last three years from key growers, including Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Unusual rainfall and high temperatures saw prices more than double for cocoa futures last year, hitting a record high near £8.20 a kilogram in January, before dropping slightly amid predictions of a more promising harvest and lower demand.
Pladis said it's committed to 'delivering great-tasting snacks while minimising the impact of rising costs on consumers, adjusting formulations only when necessary'.
It comes as some of the UK's most beloved Christmas chocolates have shrunk this year, new research has revealed.
Despite the smaller sizes, prices have surged by as much as 33 per cent in some instances, and the rising cost of cocoa is partly to blame.
Quality Street tubs are among the sweet treats shrinking in size, going from 600g to 550g.
Although the box has decreased by 8.3 per cent, its pre-promotional price at Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons has risen by 16.7 per cent year-on-year, The Grocer revealed.
The outlet noted that at budget supermarket Asda, the price of the 550g tub is cheaper than the 600g one was last year, dropping from £6 to £4.68.
Elsewhere, the 750g tin of Cadbury Roses has reduced from 750g to 700g in Morrisons, but the price has surged from £14 to £16.50.
Terry's Chocolate Orange has also faced similar changes, and has reduced by 7.6 per cent in size. However, in Tesco, the treat has faced a 33 per cent price hike.
In Sainsbury's, the orange-flavoured chocolate has risen by 28.2 per cent in price, and by 25 per cent in Morrisons.