Cadbury Flake 99 Multipack Box, 144 Individual Chocolate Bars for Ice Cream, Baking and Catering, 1.4 Kg (Packaging May Vary)

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News of the shortage has sparked panic on social media, with some users coming up with alternative toppings to replace the 99 Flake. There are plenty of lovely things to eat to cool down but few beat whipped ice cream in a cone served with a chocolate flake. With summer nearing and lockdown restrictions lifting, ice cream trucks will be ready to serve ice cold treats to those enjoying the sunny outdoors. The name was in honour of the final wave of Italian First World War conscripts, born in 1899 and referred to as "i Ragazzi del 99" ("the Boys of '99").

I find the cone a papery and insipid thing, prone to sogginess: the 99 cone has nothing on a Cornetto. It consisted of a small chocolate flake inserted between two servings of ice cream and placed between two wafer biscuits.As for the flakes themselves - they are made by Cadbury who has been owned by US company Mondelez since 2010. As lockdown restrictions ease and the weather warms, the UK is facing a new challenge: a shortage of Cadbury 99 Flakes. The treat is still a popular favourite from the ice cream van with thousands - perhaps even millions - being sold every year. One business owner who supplies 99 Flakes to ice cream vans in Ireland told The Irish Times it is the first time he has seen a shortage like this.

Cadbury's press office sent me some pictures of old Flake packaging which they hoped might accompany this article, adding that we could use the images "providing that there are no negative or derogatory comments made towards Cadbury or its associated brands". Cadbury's press bumph repeats the fallacious but appealing story that a former king of Italy had a private army of 99 elite soldiers, and that the Italian immigrants who pioneered the 20th century British ice-cream trade used "99" as a corresponding symbol for quality and prestige. Trips to the seaside, a picnic in the park or a family day out just wouldn't be complete without this cold, sweet classic treat.Vendors claim that the quality of the Cadbury Flake 99 has deteriorated since the production of the sweet treat was moved to Egypt.

But the name has caused some confusion over the years, with a number of theories as to how it came about. There have been concerns the classic summertime treat may be at risk this summer, with recent batches of the Flake deemed to be ‘too crumbly’ by ice-cream vendors. We recommend that you always check the packaging for allergen advice and talk to your doctor if you need any further food allergy advice. In the days of the monarchy in Italy, the King had a specially chosen guard consisting of 99 men, and subsequently anything really special or first-class was known as '99' - and that is how '99' Flake came by its name," Cadbury said. The gentle jingle of Greensleeves from a garishly converted van, a beefy-armed vendor, crisply anaemic cone, turdy curly ice-cream and chocolate spike: it's all a happy reminder of sandy summers and shrieky, milk-smeared faces.

Variations include a 99 with two flakes – often referred to as a "double 99" or "bunny's ears" – and a 99 with strawberry or raspberry syrup on top, sometimes known as "monkey's blood".