Haribo, the well-known gummy bear producer, has initiated a recall of its ‘Happy Cola’ sweets in the Netherlands after tests revealed the presence of cannabis. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning stating that some bags of these candies could cause adverse health effects, including dizziness, when consumed.
As of now, the recall is limited to the Netherlands, and the NVWA has confirmed that all other Haribo products remain safe for consumption. The recall follows reports that multiple individuals, including at least one family, experienced significant illness after eating the affected candies, leading to a police forensic investigation.
Chantal Westerhoff, a police spokesperson, stated that investigators are seeking to determine how cannabis ended up in the candy and how these affected bags reached retail shelves. NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad confirmed that cannabis was indeed detected in the cola-shaped candies.
Haribo has stated that the source of the contamination remains unclear, and the company is collaborating with law enforcement to investigate the situation thoroughly. A Haribo representative emphasized the seriousness of the incident and noted that they are working diligently to ascertain the details surrounding the contamination.
There has been no confirmation yet on whether the candies in question were genuine Haribo products or if they were tampered with. Haribo has not responded to requests for additional information from the media.
In a related note, federal regulators in the United States have previously cautioned manufacturers of cannabis edibles against producing products that mimic popular snack brands aimed at children. Reports from Dayton Children’s Hospital last fall indicated an increase in cases involving children accidentally ingesting cannabis edibles, highlighting the potential dangers of such products looking similar to conventional candies and snacks.
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