Watchdog warns allergy victims about Dubai chocolate | EUROtoday

The UK meals watchdog has warned folks with allergy symptoms to not purchase imported Dubai chocolate if they’ve any doubts about elements due to completely different labelling requirements.

The Food Standards Agency’s chief scientific advisor mentioned consumers ought to keep on with “trusted” retailers within the UK because the merchandise they promote usually tend to be made for the home market.

Dubai chocolate has grow to be massively well-liked fuelled by so-called “influencers” on TikTok, main UK supermarkets corresponding to Waitrose and Lidl to impose per particular person limits to satisfy demand.

But a latest investigation by the BBC discovered a number of TikTok Shop customers promoting meals with out itemizing allergen info.

UK companies are legally required to declare if a product they promote incorporates one of many 14 regulated allergens – together with nuts and milk.

The FSA discovered some imported Dubai-style chocolate merchandise might not have been supposed on the market within the UK and due to this fact lack a full elements record or allergen labelling which might be legally required.

Professor Robin May, the FSA’s chief chief scientific advisor, mentioned: “Some imported Dubai-style chocolate products don’t meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies.”

He added: “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.”

By regulation, merchandise made to UK requirements will need to have labels which have the elements written in English, the title of the meals, a finest earlier than or use by date, and the title and handle of a UK or European Union (EU) enterprise that’s accountable for info on the product.

If the meals isn’t from the EU or UK then an importer have to be listed.

The FSA mentioned it had labored with native authorities to determine various Dubai chocolate merchandise that posed a well being danger to shoppers with allergy symptoms.

It mentioned a few of these merchandise might also comprise components and hues which are not allowed to be bought within the UK.

The well-liked deal with combines the flavours of chocolate, pistachio and tahini with filo pastry, and is impressed by the Arab dessert Knafeh.

The regulator is now sampling merchandise to work out the size of the issue.

It mentioned consumers ought to report any issues to their native authority and is working with allergy charities to boost consciousness.