Allergy alert issued for some Dubai-style chocolates in UK
Flintshire shoppers are being urged to check labels carefully when buying popular Dubai-style chocolate products, after a food safety warning was issued over some imported items.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says it has found some imported Dubai-style chocolate on sale in the UK that may lack proper ingredients lists or allergen labelling, posing a risk to people with food allergies.
The warning comes as the global popularity of Dubai-style chocolate continues to rise, driven by social media trends.
The chocolate, known for combining Middle Eastern flavours such as pistachio cream, tahini, and knafeh pastry with milk chocolate, has seen a surge in sales worldwide.
While most Dubai-style chocolate available in the UK is safe, the FSA has identified some imported products that may not meet UK food safety standards.
Some may also contain colours or additives that are not permitted in the UK.
Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor to the FSA, 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.
“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.”
The FSA advises consumers to look for the following information on labels:
The name of the food
A full list of ingredients with allergens highlighted
The weight of the food
A best before or use by date
The name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product, or the importer if outside the UK/EU
The agency is now surveying and sampling these products to assess the scale of the issue and is working with allergy charities to raise awareness among consumers.
Shoppers in Flintshire and across the UK are advised not to buy products unless they are certain they are intended for the UK market and meet labelling requirements.
Any concerns about products on sale should be reported to the local authority.
Professor May added: “It’s difficult for consumers to tell the difference between products made for the UK and those that aren’t. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, we advise that you do not buy the product unless you’re certain it’s intended for sale here.”
[Photo: depositphotos.com]
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