Co-op recalls chocolate Santas

Co-op chocolate Santa

The Co-op is recalling 165,000 hollow milk chocolate Santa figures after two of the chocolate figures had been found to contain a small button-cell battery.

A Co-op spokesman said: "We are concerned about two separate instances of alleged product tampering involving our hollow milk chocolate Santa foil figures, which have been found to contain a small battery inside."

Surgeons recently warned that button batteries pose a potentially deadly risk to young children.

If accidentally swallowed, the small, round batteries can get lodged in the oesophagus and burn a hole through its lining.

The most serious cases are associated with Lithium button batteries larger than 20mm (the size of a 10 pence piece) which can cause severe injury within two hours.

The Co-op said customers with one of these products should not eat it, but call the company's customer relations team for a full refund.

Anyone who is concerned should call Freephone 0800 0686 727.