Important warning from the Consumer Confederation President regarding the ingredients of Dubai chocolate: 'Don't be fooled by the name...'

Stating that the 'Dubai chocolate' craze that has become popular in recent days must be stopped, Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED) President Aydın Ağaoğlu warned, "Don't be fooled by the name Dubai and eat minced peas." Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüdayi Ercoşkun, a faculty member at the Department of Food Engineering at Çankırı Karatekin University, stated that Dubai chocolate has a negative impact on children and that attention should be paid to this.

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Important warning from the Consumer Confederation President regarding the ingredients of Dubai chocolate: 'Don't be fooled by the name...'

There has been an explosion in demand, reaching a level of "craze," for Dubai chocolate, which consists of pistachios, shredded wheat (tel kadayıf), and chocolate.

This product, whose images are shared especially on social media, attracts more interest from children than adults. While large companies, patisseries, small chocolate production workshops, and women at home are practically racing to produce Dubai chocolate—which differs from the many varieties of chocolate consumed in our country only by the inclusion of shredded wheat—its price is rising steadily with the increasing demand.

This demand and high price paved the way for counterfeits to appear on the market before long. Products under the name of Dubai chocolate, which contain low-quality cocoa as well as other materials that look like pistachios, have also started to appear on the market.

Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED) President Aydın Ağaoğlu stated in his explanation that interest in Dubai chocolate has increased excessively in recent days, especially due to the influence of social media. Emphasizing that he went to a famous chain market and was told, "Dubai chocolate is selling out. If I put it on the shelf now, a thousand units would be gone in minutes," Ağaoğlu noted that this is a "luxury consumption craze."

Expressing that he witnessed it being sold at an extremely high price elsewhere as well, Ağaoğlu said:

“The price per kilo has reached up to 4 thousand liras. They are selling 100 grams for prices reaching 400 liras. Why these prices, who came up with this chocolate, who made it famous, what is the purpose? It is causing a luxury consumption craze, especially in children. It encourages children and young people to engage in luxury consumption. Well, what will those who cannot reach Dubai chocolate do? They might be able to reach it, but how will you explain it to children who cannot consume it for health reasons? The Dubai chocolate craze must definitely be stopped. A great responsibility falls on mothers and fathers here. They should keep their children away from this consumption craze.”

"DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE NAME DUBAI AND EAT MINCED PEAS"

Emphasizing that some places cannot meet the demand, Ağaoğlu said, "In many places, they are practically queuing up. It is even alleged that it is sold in school canteens. If true, precautions must be taken. Not every child may have the means to afford this expensive product." Explaining that they have heard that counterfeits have also started to be produced due to the increasing demand, Ağaoğlu said, "When a product is this expensive and popular, its fakes and low-quality versions immediately started to appear on the market. The minced peas that were once put into baklava might come to the agenda again. We are warning consumers: Don't be fooled by the name Dubai and eat minced peas."

"ITS INGREDIENTS ARE LOCAL BUT ITS NAME IS DIFFERENT"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hüdayi Ercoşkun, a faculty member at the Department of Food Engineering at Çankırı Karatekin University, stated that Dubai chocolate has a negative impact on children and that attention should be paid to this. Expressing that Turkey is ambitious globally in both pistachios, Ercoşkun noted the following: "Shredded wheat is also unique to us. Turkey is already in a good position in chocolate, it has quality production. Neither cocoa nor pistachios grow in Dubai. The most widely accepted ingredients for chocolate worldwide are milk and hazelnuts. Turkey is one of the leading countries in this regard as well. Despite all this potential, children in Turkey are being encouraged to consume Dubai chocolate, which has become a symbol of excessive luxury consumption. This situation requires questioning and evaluation by chocolate producers and the press that advertises this product. Such advertisements that encourage luxury consumption for children and extremism should be avoided."