Milo in New Zealand tastes “of wheat” after a recipe change that has sent the country into a panic.

The vitamin mix in Milo has changed and the vanilla flavour has been removed, which some drinkers have reported weakens it and makes the milk taste off.

But never fear – there are no similar plans to do the same in Australia.

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The Milo Facebook page has been flooded with calls from New Zealanders to change the recipe back, something the parent company Nestle has said it won’t do.

“RIP Milo,” said Andrew Claxton, who said he’d been drinking Milo since he was a child. “My chocolate milk drinking world is no longer what it used to be.”

You’ve done it now, Nestle, Ohhh boy, you’ve done it now. #Milogate pic.twitter.com/5kvOzcwPRj

— Luke Appleby (@lukeappleby) June 7, 2015

“The new milo tastes disgusting why would you change the recipe! If you want to change why not just bring out a new flavour called malty or something instead,” Facebook user Daniel Peter Glubb said on the company page.

“Ewwww YUCK my 4 year old tells me,” Rhonda Stokes said.

“My daughter has been complaining that it tasted different, she said it wasn’t chocolatey enough and tasted of wheat,” said Dawn Pollard.

Another page has been set up to campaign for the drink to be switched back to the old recipe.

“Sorry Nestle- epic fail. It is crap,” Susan Monkman said.

“I’ve been wondering what had happened to milo I won’t be buying it unless I can find the old milo… We have already decided we’re changing to hot chocolate,” Kylie Quigley wrote.

Major New Zealand media outlets have covered the recipe change on Sunday. And Kiwis have been venting on social media, labelling the issue “#milogate”

Nestle spokeswoman Margaret Stuart said Australia’s Milo recipe was changed recently to adjust the mix of vitamins and the source of cocoa – but there are no more changes planned for the Australian product.

The change has not affected the Australian product’s taste, Ms Stuart said.

Vitamin D “to build strong bones” and extra B vitamins “to support energy release in the body” have been added to the Milo recipe both here and in New Zealand “to help active kids perform at their best”, Stuart said.

The company has also moved to sustainably sourced cocoa, she said.

The New Zealand recipe is now also sourcing sustainable palm oil, an ingredient the Australian recipe does not use.