Netherlands: Haribo Pulls Cannabis-Laced Sweets - Haribo Withdraws Sweet Treat Due to THC Contamination - Netherlands: Haribo withdraws cannabis-infused candy
In the Netherlands, Haribo has initiated a recall of its "Happy Cola" fruit gummies following the discovery of cannabis in some packets. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) announced on Thursday that several people, including children, had experienced health issues after consuming the gummies.
Although cannabis was only found in three packets of "Happy Cola F!ZZ", the NVWA advised a full recall as a precaution. The authority stated that packets of sweets are circulating that could cause health complaints such as dizziness upon consumption, and that cannabis was found in suspect cola-shaped bottles.
According to the NVWA, several people, both children and adults, fell ill after consuming the gummies. The police are now investigating how the cannabis ended up in the fruit gummies.
Haribo has cooperated with the police and the NVWA to conduct further investigations and clarify the cause of the contamination. The company has described the incident as "serious" and has issued a safety warning, urging consumers not to eat these sweets. The safety of consumers is Haribo's top priority, according to Marketing Vice President Patrick Tax, who also noted that it involved only a limited number of cases.
The affected 1 kg bags have a best-before date of January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906. Authorities have recommended that all stock be pulled from shelves to ensure public safety, although so far, only a limited number of bags are confirmed to be contaminated. The incident appears to be isolated to a single batch within the Netherlands, with no evidence of affected products in other countries.
As of now, the precise cause of the contamination has not been fully determined, but investigations are ongoing. Both Haribo and the NVWA are working closely with the police to determine the point of entry of cannabis into the product.
- The incident involving Haribo's "Happy Cola" fruit gummies has sparked interest in the science behind product contamination, as it remains unclear how cannabis found its way into the sweets.
- Amidst the recall, health-and-wellness advocates are raising awareness about the potential risks associated with consuming unregistered substances, such as cannabis, in food-and-drink products.
- The crime-and-justice sector is now involved in the case, as the police continue their investigation to identify the party responsible for the contamination of Haribo's product, with the general public eagerly awaiting updates on the ongoing investigation.
