A popular chocolate bar that was influenced by the Dubai chocolate craze has been promptly recalled over a health risk to customers.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised against purchasing or consuming the Noesis Schokolade Love of Dubai bar, particularly for people who are allergic to peanuts.
According to the FSA, the chocolate bar contains peanuts even though they aren't listed among the ingredients, indicating that it presents a “serious risk” to people who are nut allergic.
The agency is requesting that distributors remove the Noesis bar from the shelves since it has been unable to get in touch with Black Sea Trading Ltd, the product's maker.
Advice from the FSA reads: “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.”
The Love of Dubai chocolate bar was created in response to a food trend that went viral in 2024 and has since persisted. Originally developed by a chocolatier in Dubai, it revolves around chocolate bars with a smooth pistachio filling.
This follows a related warning from the FSA over the widespread sale of imported chocolate bars from Dubai in the UK.
According to the agency, because some of these items were not initially meant for sale in the UK, they probably do not have a complete ingredients list or an allergen warning.
Additionally, it stated that the bars might include colours and ingredients that are prohibited on the UK market.
The watchdog's experts are currently working with allergy groups to raise awareness while surveying and evaluating the items to assess the extent of the problem.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific adviser to the FSA, said in a statement that 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’re unsure which Dubai-style chocolate to buy now, Professor May advises “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.”
“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 food.gov.uk.”
