Dubai issues warning against chocolate-filled needles

Dubai Municipality has issued warnings against chocolate-filled needles that are being promoted on social networks and smartphones, reports said on Monday.

“Chocolate-filled hypodermic needles being marketed as Nutella novelty products are neither legitimate nor licensed, and may be unsafe,” Abu Dhabi newspaper The National reported.

"The needles are not clean or sanitised and might be used in hospitals to take blood or inject medicine," said Khalid Sherif, the director of the Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality.

"We strongly advise the public to purchase food products from authorised establishments only as they get approval for all food items," the report said.

News website Emirates 24/7 said chocolate brand Nutella has dissociated themselves from the product, adding that the “products are fake”.

“There is apparently somebody promoting these products. When you call him, he tells you that it requires payment online. We have received the promotional message, but we have not received any complaints from people who purchased the product,” Bobby Krishna, Senior Food Inspector at Dubai Municipality was quoted by Emirates 24/7 as saying.