Haribo, the well-known gummy bear manufacturer, has issued 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) alerted consumers on Thursday, stating that certain bags of the candy could cause health issues, including dizziness, if consumed.
The recall is limited to the Netherlands, and the NVWA confirmed that all other Haribo products remain safe for consumption. The incident arose after several individuals, including at least one family, reported feeling unwell after eating the affected candy. This prompted local authorities to initiate a forensic investigation.
Police spokesperson Chantal Westerhoff stated, “We want to know exactly how this got into the candy and how the bags ended up in the store.” The NVWA is collaborating with law enforcement to uncover the source of the contamination. According to NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad, cannabis was detected in the specific cola-shaped candies involved in the recall.
Haribo has not yet identified how the cannabis entered their products. A company representative emphasized that Haribo is taking this matter seriously and is cooperating with police to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident. It remains unclear whether the affected candy was a legitimate Haribo product or tampered with.
This incident follows increased scrutiny of cannabis edibles, particularly those that resemble popular snacks. In the United States, federal regulators have previously warned manufacturers against creating marijuana products that mimic well-known children’s snacks. For instance, Dayton Children’s Hospital reported an increase in cases of children mistakenly consuming cannabis edibles last fall, highlighting the risks posed by candies that resemble traditional sweets.
As the investigation continues, consumers in the Netherlands are advised to avoid purchasing or consuming any bags of Haribo’s “Happy Cola” until further notice.
English 
Spanish 
German 
Czech