Candy maker Mars' takeover of Pringles maker Kellanova was cleared by U.S. antitrust regulators on Wednesday, but their EU counterparts opened a full-scale investigation into the $36 billion deal, saying it could lead to price hikes.

The European Union said it would launch an in-depth investigation into Mars’s bid to take over Pringles seller Kellanova, escalating its probe into the nearly $30 billion deal amid concerns it could stifle competition.

The FTC on June 25 announced it granted an early termination of its probe into the nearly year-old Mars-Kellanova transaction. Earlier in the day, the EC — the executive branch of the European Union (EU) — said it has launched an “in-depth investigation” of the planned acquisition, citing competitive concerns under the EU Merger Regulation.