People with allergies warned not to eat imported Dubai-style chocolate products 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning people with allergies to be cautious when buying imported Dubai-style chocolate as some products may not have clear or reliable labels.  

Some of these chocolate products may not be intended for sale in the UK and could lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling. By law, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens.  

While most Dubai-style chocolate available in UK shops is safe, the FSA has identified a number of products that pose a health risk to consumers with allergies. Some of these products may also contain additives and colours which aren’t allowed on the UK market and the FSA is working with the Local Authority to ensure follow-up action is taken to protect consumers.  

What to look for 

By law, products made to UK standards should have labels in English containing the following information: 

• the name of the food (e.g. milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling);   

• a list of ingredients, with allergens emphasised;   

• the weight of the food in grams;   

• a best before or use by date;    

• the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included.  

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.    

As 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. UK law requires food labels to highlight any of the 14 allergens present in the product, but some imported products may not do this. You can find more information on food.gov.uk.” 

While the FSA investigates this issue further, they are working with allergy charities, including Anaphylaxis UK, to help raise awareness of the risk with consumers.   

Simon Williams, Chief Executive of Anaphylaxis UK, said: 

“It is very concerning to hear that a product that has become so popular with consumers has managed to make it on to UK shelves without correct allergen labelling. Ingredient labels are vital for consumers to make informed, safe choices about what they purchase, and incorrect or absent information can have devastating consequences. 

We are reaching out to members of the public and the businesses we work with to raise awareness of this issue and offer guidance where needed.” 

Anyone who has concerns about products they have purchased should not eat them, especially if they have food allergies or intolerances. Please report concerns to your local authority.