Food safety warning issued over Dubai-style chocolate

Food safety chiefs are sounding the alarm over Dubai-style chocolate and warning that some people should not eat it.

The treat typically contains a filling made of pistachio, tahini, and shredded filo pastry, and has soared in popularity over the past year. But the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it had found "several" of these products in the UK which failed to meet safety and labelling requirements.

Rebecca Sudworth, FSA director of policy, said: "We've found that some products contain peanut and sesame that aren't declared on the label." It would therefore be "dangerous" for consumers with allergies to buy the bars, the organisation said. The watchdog says it is currently reviewing sampling data from products on sale to check whether they meet food safety standards.

But until its full results are known, the body is advising consumers with allergies to avoid Dubai-style chocolate as a precaution. Ms Sudworth added: "People with an allergy should not eat Dubai-style chocolate.

"If you're buying a gift for someone who lives with allergies, our advice is to avoid buying these products. This includes all allergies, not just peanut and sesame.

"People without allergies can consume these products, especially where they are supplied by reputable brands and retailers." Read more:It's not your imagination, these products are getting smallerThe 'perilous' threat to our coffee supply Jessica Merryfield, head of policy and campaigns at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), warned that failing to comply with food labelling rules was "highly dangerous". She said: "The legal requirements on this are clear - any food containing allergens needs to be clearly identified and labelled as such to allow consumers to make informed and safe choices.

"To not do this is illegal and also highly dangerous as it makes such foods unsafe to those with food allergies. "We urge all food businesses, including retailers and importers, to take immediate steps to comply.".