Food safety warning for certain Dubai-style chocolate bars that could be deadly
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has identified a number of products that pose a health risk
Dubai-style chocolate is the hottest food trend right now. The TikTok -viral sweet is so popular that UK retailers have been launching their own versions to keep up with demand.
However, it seems that not all versions of the pistachio-filled snack may be safe to consume, as some imports to the UK may cause a deadly reaction in those who suffer from allergies.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is now urging anyone with allergies to exercise caution when it comes to the viral snack, as it may not have been intended for sale in the UK, leading to a lack of full allergen labelling or ingredients list.
The food watchdog is since said to have "identified" a number of products that do not meet the UK's high food safety standards, with concerns they may contain additives and colours which aren't allowed on the UK market.
Chief Scientific Advisor to the FSA, Professor Robin May, has said that "the vast majority" of food in the country is safe, although some imported Dubai-style chocolate products "don't meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies."
To help ensure customers are fully protected, the FSA is working with the local authority in each case to ensure follow-up action is taken, while also sharing concerns with businesses and online retailers to help remove the potentially deadly products from shelves.
The food watchdog is also now "surveying" and "sampling" the affected products to work out the scale of the issue, while also working with allergy charities to raise awareness of the potential risk with consumers.
By UK law, imported foods intended for sale must contain all the ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens.
Products sold in the UK should have labels in English that contain information such as the name of the food (milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling), the full list of ingredients that emphasise allergens, the weight in grams, a best before or use by date and the name and address of the company responsible for the information.
Profession Robin May said: "The vast majority of food in the UK is safe, but some imported Dubai-style chocolate products don't meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies.
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"If you are looking to buy Dubai-style chocolate, we advise sticking with trusted retailers, like the ones you'd use for your weekly shop, as products are more likely to be made for UK consumers and so are safe to eat."
Consumers who find it difficult to tell the difference between products made for the UK and those that aren't have now been urged to not buy the product, especially if they do have a food allergy or intolerance of any kind.
The advisor further highlighted that customers who have concerns about Dubai-chocolate on sale should report it to their local authority.
Dubai-style chocolate was first created in 2021 by Fix Dessert founder Sarah Hamouda. Inspired by her pregnancy cravings at the time, it is known for boasting a filling made of pistachio cream and knafeh - a crispy shredded filo pastry used to make baklava.
The luxurious chocolate quickly became the centre of attention on TikTok in 2023, after an ASMR food influencer shared herself eating the treat from the Fix Dessert chocolatier in a video that racked up millions of views.
To meet demand for the viral treat, many UK retailers have launched their own versions, with Aldi just announcing that its very own Dubai-style Chocolate for £3.99 that landed in stores yesterday, June 12.
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