Live worms crawling out of several bars of chocolate of a multinational brand spoiled a birthday party in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.

Joe Vincent, an executive with a management consultancy, found pale brownish worms in several of the 35 bars of chocolate he had bought for presenting to his colleagues on his birthday.

"The worms were there in half of the bars we bought," Vincent said.

The wrappers showed the manufacturing date as July 2003.

The chief food inspector was informed of the matter, he said.

Health Secretary K Ramamoorthy said authorities concerned have been asked to ensure that chocolates and confectionaries were stored properly in shops.

"Reports on this particular case have come to our notice and the issue also figured in a meeting of district food
inspectors today," Ramamoorthy said.