Mozart chocolate overseas production leaves Austria with bitter taste

Mozart chocolate overseas production leaves Austria with bitter taste

Rolling off the production line at a chocolate factory in Vienna, the Mozart Ball or Mozartkugel is an emblematic Austrian treat.

First invented in Salzburg in 1890, the chocolate is beloved by locals and tourists alike, but increasingly isn't even made in its homeland.

Citing high cacao prices and energy costs, US food giant Mondelez, which owns one of Mozartkugel's most recognisable brands, has moved production to Eastern Europe, making it the latest company to make the sweets outside Austria.

The trend has sparked a row, with traditional makers unable to cut costs in the same way and workers' unions critical of bigger companies' lack of transparency.