Cannabis Found in Candy Products, Haribo Initiates Recall

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Haribo announced on May 29, 2025, that the German sweets company was initiating a recall of specific batches of Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ gummy candies (1,2). BBC reported that the recall currently only affects Happy Cola F!ZZ products in the Netherlands (1).

The recall was established after several people began feeling dizzy and “unwell” after consuming a 1 kg pack of the Haribo products. BBC mentioned that (1), “A spokesperson for the food safety body in the Netherlands (NVWA) said some had reported ‘dizziness’ after eating the sweets. The agency told Dutch broadcaster SBS6 that ‘samples were taken, and cannabis was found in them.’”

So far only three packs tested positive for cannabis but on the side of caution, Haribo has initiated a volunteer recall of the gummy candies entire stock which have a best-before date of January 2026 (1,2). A Haribo spokesperson commented to the BBC that the company “was working with police to ‘establish the facts around the contamination’,” (1).

In a company statement, Haribo commented (1,3), “The safety of our consumers is our highest priority and Haribo takes this incident very seriously, which is why a recall has been issued in the Netherlands.”

The NVWA’s report mentioned that (4), “The authorities (including the NVWA) are currently investigating the cause. This is done in close cooperation with HARIBO.”

It is not known how many individuals have been sickened by the Happy Cola F!ZZ gummy candy products or how cannabis got into the product (1,2). A spokesperson from the NVWA told Hart van Nederland (4,5), “Samples were taken and cannabis was found in them.” Additionally, it is uncertain how many products were contaminated and how cannabis came into contact with the sweets.

“Haribo has carried out this recall in Belgium as a precautionary measure,” Belgian food agency spokesperson Liesbeth Van de Voorde said to Euronews (6). Although there have not been any reports in Belgium regarding the Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ gummy candies, Van de Voorde mentioned that they “have set up a consumer hotline for this purpose, and we have not received any news of issues in Belgium.”

References

1. Kupemba, D. N. Haribo recalls product in Netherlands after cannabis found https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yx2lynznpo (accessed Jun 3, 2025).
2. Abbott, G. German candy company Haribo recalls products for unexpected cannabis content https://www.ganjapreneur.com/german-candy-company-haribo-recalls-products-for-unexpected-cannabis-content/ (accessed Jun 3, 2025).
3. Reyes, R. Haribo issues major recall after popular gummies found to be tainted with cannabis https://nypost.com/2025/05/29/us-news/haribo-issues-recall-over-cola-gummies-are-tainted-with-cannabis/ (accessed Jun 3, 2025).
4. Belangrijke gezondheidswaarschuwing Haribo Happy Cola F!ZZ (1000 gram) https://www.nvwa.nl/documenten/waarschuwingen/2025/05/29/belangrijke-gezondheidswaarschuwing-haribo-happy-cola-fzz-1000-gram (accessed Jun 3, 2025).
5. Warn. Gezin Onwel na Eten Haribo-Snoep: NVWA vindt sporen van cannabis https://www.hartvannederland.nl/advies-en-tips/waarschuwen/artikelen/nvwa-cannabis-teruggeroepen-haribo-snoep (accessed Jun 3, 2025).
6. Walker, L. Popular sweets recalled in Belgium over cannabis in Dutch gummies https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/06/02/haribo-sweets-recalled-in-belgium-after-cannabis-found-in-dutch-gummies (accessed Jun 3, 2025).