The makers of small rubbery indigestible sweets for 4-year-olds, have been hit hard by a shortage of raw materials in the credit crunch.
Latex from Malaysia and Thailand has become 300% dearer in the last year, so the manufacturers are looking at alternatives, such as what they make trainer soles out of. Luckily for sweet fans, the firm hold vast quantities of e-numbers and preservatives.
While being shown around the factory yesterday, I was shown the e-number section, and there was literally tons of them in barrels, including plenty of Stannous Chloride E512, which causes asthma and diarrhoea and makes small children extra hyperactive for a day, "but is a lovely red colour", adds CEO Harry Bow.
