Popular gummy bear producer Haribo has announced a recall in the Netherlands after reports surfaced that some of its “Happy Cola” candies tested positive for cannabis.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning on Thursday, stating, “There are bags in circulation with sweets that may cause health issues, such as dizziness, when consumed.”
Currently, the issue affects only three bags of “Happy Cola F!ZZ,” but the German candy company is withdrawing its stock of this product. The recall in the Netherlands pertains specifically to 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ that have a best-before date of January 2026 and the product code L341-4002307906.
The recall is confined to the Netherlands, as of Thursday, and all other Haribo products are safe to eat, according to the NVWA.
Several people, including at least one family, became “quite ill” after eating the candy, prompting a police forensic investigation, according to local media.
“We want to know exactly how this got into the candy and how the bags ended up in the store, police spokesperson Chantal Westerhoff told Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant, one of the oldest newspapers in the country.
Police also notified the NVWA, which is still investigating the incident.
“Cannabis was found in the cola bottles in question,” NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad confirmed to Agence France Presse, referencing the shape of the candy.
The German confectionery company said Thursday the source of the alleged contamination is not yet clear. A Haribo spokesperson told the BBC that the company takes the incident “very seriously” and is working with police to “establish the facts around the contamination.”
It has not been confirmed whether the candy was a genuine, unaltered Haribo product. Haribo did not immediately return Nexstar’s requests for additional information.
Federal regulators in the U.S. previously warned marijuana edible manufacturers in several states to stop making products that imitate snack brands that are popular among children.
Last fall, Dayton Children’s Hospital reported it had seen an uptick in cases involving children accidentally consuming cannabis edibles.
“Edible marijuana products can look just like regular candies and snacks, making them incredibly dangerous for children,” the Ohio hospital said.
Addy Bink contributed to this report.
