Haribo Issues Recall in the Netherlands After Cannabis Contamination

In a recent incident, Haribo has initiated a recall of its Happy Cola F!ZZ candy in the Netherlands due to reports of cannabis contamination, prompting health warnings and an investigation.

Haribo, the popular confectionery brand, has taken the precautionary measure of recalling 1kg bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ in the Netherlands after reports revealed that some packs contained traces of cannabis. Health concerns arose when several individuals, including a family, reported feeling unwell after consuming the sweets, experiencing symptoms such as dizziness.

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) confirmed that they had conducted tests on the candies and found cannabis present in some samples. Following these findings, Haribo is taking swift action to determine how these contaminants ended up in their products, working closely with local police.

Although three bags were confirmed to be tainted, Haribo has proactively decided to withdraw all stock from the market as a safety measure. The affected bags bear a best-before date of January 2026, but the extent of potentially contaminated products remains unclear.

The NVWA advised consumers not to eat the affected sweets and reassured the public that all other Haribo products available in stores are safe for consumption. Haribo has emphasized that the safety of its customers is of utmost importance, taking this incident very seriously, while confirming that the recall is limited solely to the Netherlands and that other nations remain unaffected.

As the investigation unfolds, more information regarding the origin of the cannabis contamination is expected to be released.