Dubai chocolate bar under fire: health warning issued over allergen risk

IOL News

18-07-2025

The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has raised significant concerns, stressing that, 'The product presents a serious risk to anyone with an allergy to peanuts.'
Image: TikTok
If you've spent any time on TikTok or Instagram, you've probably seen it: the oozy, luxurious "Dubai chocolate" bar.
Maybe you've even hunted it down at a local speciality shop or paid a premium to see the hype.
But this week, a surprising and urgent health warning is making many chocolate fans pause before their next bite.
According to Tatler Asia and the BBC, the bar was dreamed up by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian chocolatier and founder of FIX Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai.
Inspired by her pregnancy cravings, she combined pistachio cream, tahini, and the popular Middle Eastern knafeh pastry inside a silky chocolate shell.
Then, TikTok worked its usual magic, millions of views, mouth-watering unboxings, and a global pistachio obsession that even nudged pistachio prices up worldwide.
In South Africa, you'll spot this bar on some boutique retailer shelves for an eye-watering R500 to R700 a pop, proof that no viral craving comes cheap. So, why is this chocolate being pulled from shelves?
The buzz turned bitter when the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) raised a red flag this week. A version of the chocolate, called Neosis Schokolade Love of Dubai, sold by Black Sea Trading Ltd and stocked by World Market stores, contains peanuts, but this crucial allergen wasn't listed on its label.
If you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, this missing detail isn't just a mistake; it's a serious health risk.
'The product presents a serious risk to anyone with an allergy to peanuts,' the FSA warned in an official statement published on food.gov.uk. Shops have been told to 'immediately stop sales and undertake product withdrawals.'
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Peanut allergies are no joke; they're one of the leading causes of severe food allergy reactions, and even tiny traces can cause life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitive people.
Peanut allergy affects a significant number of people, with prevalence rates varying by region and age group.
In Western nations, it's estimated that 1-2% of the population has a peanut allergy. In the US, over 4 million people are affected by peanut allergies, with rates increasing in recent years. Studies have shown that peanut allergy is more common in children than adults, and prevalence rates can differ between urban and rural areas.
'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,' Professor Robin May, chief scientific adviser to the FSA, told "The Independent".
A British-Egyptian chocolatier from FIX Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai created this luxury bar filled with pistachio cream and tahini.
Image: TikTok
Is anyone sick yet?
So far, thankfully, no illnesses have been reported, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But that doesn't mean you should take a chance.
The FSA's advice is clear: Don't buy it. Don't eat it. Dispose of it safely. If you already have one stashed away, toss it and let your local Trading Standards (in Great Britain) or Environmental Health Officers (in Northern Ireland) know where you bought it.
The watchdog also raised concerns that these imported bars might be missing full ingredient lists altogether. Some versions could contain additives and food colours that aren't legal for sale in the UK, according to "The Independent".
For people with food sensitivities, that's double trouble. Shops were told to immediately stop sales and pull the product from shelves, while customers were advised: don't eat it, especially if you have a peanut allergy.
Dispose of it safely, and let authorities know where you bought it, stressed the FSA. In the UK, food laws require any of 14 major allergens to be clearly labelled.
But as "The Independent" reports, many imported 'Dubai chocolate' bars don't include a full ingredient list or proper allergen warnings, simply because they weren't originally made for sale in the UK or the US. No recalls have been issued in South Africa yet.