What started as a social media trend has now raised serious public health concerns. The so-called “Dubai chocolate”, a sweet sold in shiny packaging and marketed with exaggerated claims of energy boosts and mood enhancement, is under fire after health experts and regulatory authorities flagged its toxic ingredients.
Recent investigations by food safety agencies and health professionals reveal that certain batches of this imported or locally replicated chocolate contain harmful additives, synthetic stimulants, and even heavy metals, which can cause liver toxicity, reproductive harm, and even cancer with prolonged use.
What Makes ‘Dubai Chocolate’ Dangerous?
Laboratory analysis has found alarming levels of:
- Sildenafil and other unregulated aphrodisiac compounds
- Synthetic caffeine derivatives in unsafe quantities
- Heavy metals like lead and cadmium
- Addictive stimulants disguised under herbal names
Doctors have already reported cases of acute liver injury, hormonal imbalances, and digestive tract complications among regular consumers, particularly in young men lured by aggressive online marketing.
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No Certification, No Testing – Only Risk
What’s more worrying is that these chocolates are neither FSSAI-certified nor properly labeled, often sold via Instagram reels, WhatsApp forwards, and local vendors without disclosure of contents. Authorities have now begun crackdowns on illegal imports and unauthorized sellers, especially in metro cities where demand has surged.
Medical Experts Sound the Alarm
According to Dr. Rakesh Kothari, a gastroenterologist based in Mumbai:
“This isn’t candy — it’s a toxic cocktail disguised as a treat. Continuous use can lead to irreversible liver damage, infertility, and in some cases, carcinogenic effects.“
Consumers are being urged to check labels, avoid unregulated imports, and report suspicious products to food safety helplines.