The Food Standards Agency has warned that is poses a “serious risk to anyone with an allergy to peanuts” as a result of the labelling error.
Anyone with an allergy to peanuts has been told not to consume Neosis Schokolade Love of Dubai branded chocolate by the Food Standards Agency, while food businesses selling the product have been told to withdraw its from sale and to undertake a product recall.
Neosis Schokolade Love of Dubai chocolate is manufactured by NEOSIS, Gida ve Unlu Mam Ltd. All lot numbers and date codes are affected by the issue, while the product is sold in 95g packs.
“We are notifying consumers and food business who have purchased Neosis Schokolade Love of Dubai chocolate that this product contains peanut, which is not mentioned on the label, making it a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy to peanuts,” the Food Standards Agency said in a statement.
Businesses have been supplied these products by a company called Black Sea Trading Ltd, but the Food Standards Agency has been unable to get in contact with the business.
It has though informed allergy organisations about the issue, which will warn their members.
“We are working closely with relevant enforcement authorities to progress investigations and ensure affected products are withdrawn from the market and, where sold at retail, recalled,” the agency added.
“Don’t buy this product, and if you have bought it, don’t eat it, especially if you have a peanut allergy. Dispose of the product at home and get in touch with your local Trading Standards in Great Britain or Environmental Health Officers in Northern Ireland, to let them know where you purchased it.”
This is just the latest issue with imported Dubai chocolate that has been highlighted. In June, the Food Standards Agency 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.
Meanwhile, Georgina Stewart, nutrition and regulation adviser at food consultancy The Nutrient Gap, told Food Manufacture that the warning was evidence of “viral food trends outpacing food safety”.
