Haribo Recalls Cannabis-Laced Sweet Products in Netherlands - Dutch Company Recalls Cannabis-Laced Sweets: Haribo Takes Action on Contaminated Product
Netherlands: Cannabis Found in Haribo's "Happy Cola" Fruit Gums Leads to Product Recall
Haribo, the popular German confectionery brand, has initiated a recall of its "Happy Cola" products in the Netherlands after traces of cannabis were detected in some fruit gums. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) announced this development on Thursday, citing health issues experienced by several individuals, including children, after consumption.
The NVWA's investigation revealed cannabis in three packets of "Happy Cola F!ZZ," prompting a full recall as a precaution. The suspect gummies have been linked to reports of dizziness in consumers. The authority's spokesperson told AFP that cannabis was found in the gummies, which resemble cola bottles in shape.
In a joint effort to clarify the contamination, the NVWA, Haribo, and the Dutch police are now investigating the incident. Haribo, citing consumer safety as its top priority, has cooperated with authorities, as is standard practice in such situations. The company has also advised consumers not to eat the affected sweets.
"After consultation with the NVWA and as is customary in such situations, Haribo has issued a safety warning," the spokesperson said. The Marketing Vice President of Haribo, Patrick Tax, described the incident as serious, noting that it impacted only a limited number of cases.
The affected batch consists of 1kg bags of Happy Cola FZZ gummies with a best-before date of January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906. Customers who purchased the affected bags will receive full refunds. As of now, the contamination appears to be confined to this single batch in the Netherlands, with no similar incidents reported in other countries.
Updates on the investigation findings are pending as the situation is still under investigation. The exact cause of the cannabis contamination remains unknown at this time.
The Commission, in light of the discovered cannabis in Haribo's "Happy Cola" gummies, might consider incorporating stricter regulations on food safety and the prevention of contamination in food-and-drink products as part of a health-and-wellness lifestyle agenda. The integration of scientific research into the development of such legislation could potentially minimize similar health risks in the future.
