DUBAI // The hypodermic needles filled with chocolate that have raised concerns by health officials are being produced by teenagers in their homes, according to one of the sellers.
The needles have raised alarms from the public and prompted a warning from Dubai Municipality and the Ministry of Health.
A post on the social media network Dubai Moon's Souq pages by 18-year-old Salem Mohammed Al Muhairi was made on June 15. It advertised "Nutella Needles" and claimed that there were only 30 left, telling people to "get them while stocks last at a new reduced price of Dh10".
The post has been updated to show that they are now sold out.
"I don't make the needles, I only had 30 pieces which I sold and I'm not getting anymore," said Mr Al Muhairi. "I only sell them to family members, I don't sell them to the public," claimed the recent high-school graduate.
He added that all the production was done by his cousin, 20-year-old Jasem Mohammed Al Mansoori. "I get them from my cousin who has a sterile room in his house, I don't know where he gets the needles from."
Mr Al Muhairi said the syringes are sold without a needle, and that the needle was only added for the advert.
"A lot of people have been doing this, the ads are all over the net and BlackBerry, we are not the only ones. My cousins just wanted to make some money since people really liked the idea and there is a huge appeal for the product."
He said he hasn't received any calls from the authorities regarding the matter or any complaints from people he sold to.
