Production of a new Whittaker's chocolate bar that includes honey from a Tauranga firm ground to a halt recently when a wasp was found encased in one of their Artisan Collection bars.

Bay of Plenty producers Mossop's Honey are providing ingredients for the new Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey product which launched ten days ago.

The wasp was found baked into the chocolate bar by Andrew Taylor. Photos: stuff.co.nz

However, the discovery of the wasp by a Wellington man prompted a production line shutdown and a full-scale investigation, reports Stuff's Henry Cooke.

The wasp was found baked into the bar by Andrew Taylor on Wednesday night, who said he'd bought the chocolate to enjoy with his wife on her birthday last week.

'He ate the first piece without looking at it,” explains his wife, Casey Taylor.

'For whatever reason, he started to turn the second piece over before biting into it. 'He texted me saying ‘is it supposed to have a wasp in it?' I replied ‘ew'."

Casey contacted Whittaker's via Facebook the same evening, and attached a photo of the stinging surprise.

'It seems this little fellow was a fan [of the chocolate] too,” she wrote.

Whittaker's responded saying they were closing down a production line and undertaking a full investigation.

A Whittaker's spokeswoman confirmed the production line closure and investigation but could not provide further comment at this time.

The Nelson Pear and Manuka Honey flavour is part of a stable of new Whittaker's ‘artisan' flavours, which include Zealong's Oolong Tea and Kaitaia Fire Chili Pepper Spice.

Casey assumes the wasp was attracted to the sugar, but she hasn't been put off Whittaker's at all.

'I like NZ-owned companies and I love their chocolate milk,” she said.