Pistachio-filled “Dubai chocolate” is one of the UK’s hottest food trends but food safety officials warn that rogue imports could pose a serious threat to those with allergies.
With shoppers clamouring to get their hands on the bars, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it has identified a “number of products that pose a health risk to consumers with allergies”.
Although most of the chocolate is “safe” to eat, the body says it is concerned that some bars do not have reliable labels. It is also possible they contain banned additives and dyes. Its officials are working with local councils to get problem bars cleared from shelves.
The bars were first invented in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian living in Dubai. The indulgent treat went on to become a huge hit on social media. One video of a food influencer eating the bar, which contains a filling of pistachio cream and tahini with knafeh (a traditional Arab dessert), has clocked up more than 100m views on TikTok.
The chocolate has become so popular it is one of the factors blamed for a shortage of pistachios. The scale of the demand inspired specialists such as Lindt to launch their own versions as well as supermarkets from Lidl to Waitrose.
The FSA’s chief scientific adviser, Prof 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.
“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.”
By law, products made to UK standards should have labels in English that carry a list of ingredients, with the allergens emphasised. The packet should also give the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information.
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The FSA says it is trying to establish the scale of the problem. While this work takes place, it is advising those with a food allergy or intolerance to only buy bars that are clearly intended for sale in the UK.
