Ice cream sauce deemed 'too risky' to pour

An upmarket ice cream parlour is refusing to pour chocolate sauce over its cones because of health and safety fears.

Morellis Gelato, which has bars in Selfridges and Harrods, has taken the decision in case customers slip on spilled toppings.

The family-run Italian company, which was founded in 1932 on a seafront in Broadstairs in Kent, says it is just not "common sense" to pour toppings on top of ice cream cones as they are highly likely to spill onto the floor.

Instead, staff give customers separate containers containing their flavoured sauce, chopped nuts or fruit so they can decide for themselves whether to risk pouring onto their ice cream once they have been served.

Some critics have claimed that the decision is just another example of health and safety fears being taken too far.

John Midley, of the Campaign for Political Correctness, said: "This seems to be completely barmy. "It's an example of the over-the-top health and safety culture in which we live."