The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that allergen sufferers should be extra careful as many of the products do not have the clear and accurate allergen labelling, which means that they pose a serious safety threat.
By law, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens.
People with allergies have been told not to purchase any Dubai-style chocolate products that they have doubts about and to report concerns to the Local Authority where the chocolate is on sale.
The FSA is also engaging with businesses, importers and consumers over its concerns.
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.
The non-compliant products discovered are now being surveyed and sampled so that the FSA can understand the scale of the issue. It is also working with allergy charities to help raise awareness of the risk with consumers.
“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,” said Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor to the FSA.
“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 14 allergens present in the product, but some imported products may not do this. You can find more information [on the FSA website].
“If you have concerns about chocolate that you see on sale, don’t buy it and instead report it to your local authority. We are working closely with local authorities to make sure that any unsafe products are removed from sale as swiftly as possible.”
