What started as a regular snack break for one family ended with police reports, lab tests, and a nationwide candy recall.
The beloved candy brand Haribo has been forced to recall one of its popular products after an alarming and unexpected ingredient was found: cannabis.
Family Falls Ill After Eating Haribo’s Happy Cola F!ZZ
The trouble began in the Netherlands when several members of the same family—both children and adults—started feeling unwell after munching on Haribo’s Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets.
Concerned, they reached out to the police, prompting an investigation that would uncover something no one expected to find in a packet of gummy candy.
Authorities Confirm Cannabis Contamination
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) quickly got involved.
According to a spokesperson, the agency tested samples of the sweets and confirmed the presence of cannabis.
“We immediately contacted Haribo, and they issued a safety warning,” the NVWA said.
But how the substance ended up in the sweets? That’s still a mystery.
The police are actively investigating the contamination.
Haribo Responds Swiftly With Recall
In response, Haribo issued an urgent safety recall specific to the Netherlands.
The company clarified that only one specific batch—identified by the production code L341-4002307906—was affected.
They reassured customers in other countries, especially the UK, that no other products were impacted.
“Our top priority is the safety of our consumers,” a Haribo spokesperson stated.
“That’s why we took immediate action once we were made aware.”
Haribo is working closely with Dutch authorities to get to the bottom of what went wrong.
Refunds Offered, But Don’t Return the Candy to Stores
Consumers who have the affected Happy Cola F!ZZ packets are being asked not to return them to the shop.
Instead, Haribo wants people to send the sweets directly to them, and they’ll provide a refund.
The exact number of contaminated packets is still unknown, and officials are continuing to assess the full scope of the issue.
Not the First Recall for Haribo
Unfortunately, this isn’t Haribo’s first brush with quality control issues.
Just last year, the company had to recall its Tangfastics range in Canada after bits of wood were found both in and stuck to the candy.
That recall was listed as a ‘Class 2’ by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), meaning the contaminated sweets posed a moderate health risk.
What’s Next?
While the investigation continues, consumers in the Netherlands are being urged to check their candy stashes.
Haribo is facing serious questions about how this happened, and for now, the case serves as a bizarre reminder that even our favorite treats can carry unexpected risks.
Let’s hope the company and authorities can trace the source quickly—and that gummy candy lovers everywhere can go back to enjoying their sweets without surprises.