Haribo, the globally renowned confectionery giant, has initiated a product recall in the Netherlands after cannabis was discovered in some of its 1kg packs of Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets. The move follows multiple reports from consumers who experienced dizziness and other symptoms after consuming the cola-bottle-shaped candies. Dutch food safety authorities and police have launched a full-scale investigation to determine how the banned substance made its way into the candy.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) confirmed that several individuals, including children, fell ill after eating the sweets. A full recall was swiftly issued, and the public was advised not to consume the product under any circumstances. “Health complaints were reported after eating the sweets, including symptoms like dizziness,” the NVWA stated, adding that forensic testing confirmed the presence of cannabis.
The contaminated sweets were found in three 1kg bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ, all of which were genuine Haribo products, not counterfeit. Authorities are currently treating the matter with the utmost seriousness, although the precise cause of contamination remains unclear.
Concern Raised by Parents in Twente
The alarm was first raised by a couple from the Twente region in eastern Netherlands. According to Dutch police, the parents brought the unopened packet to their local police station after their children became unwell shortly after consuming the sweets. Lab tests later confirmed that the sweets contained traces of cannabis, prompting urgent concern and further investigations.
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“We want to know exactly how it got into the candy and, of course, how the bags ended up in the store,” said Chantal Westerhoff, a police spokesperson. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of foul play or tampering somewhere along the supply chain.
Haribo responded to the incident with a public statement, reiterating its commitment to consumer safety. Patrick Tax, Haribo’s vice-president of marketing, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “This recall concerns a limited number of cases in the east of the country,” he said. “The safety of our consumers is our highest priority, and Haribo is taking this incident very seriously. We are working closely with Dutch authorities to support their investigation.”
Customers in possession of the affected product—1kg bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ with a best-before date of January 2026 and a specific product code—have been urged to return the sweets for a full refund.
Not an Isolated Incident
While cannabis-infused sweets are not uncommon in the Netherlands, where cannabis laws are more relaxed than in many other countries, the drug is typically associated with adult-targeted edibles like space cakes or hash brownies—sold under controlled conditions. What sets this incident apart is the fact that the contaminated product was a widely distributed commercial sweet marketed toward children.
This is not the first such incident involving cannabis-laced candy in the Netherlands. In 2023, six children aged between four and fourteen were hospitalised in The Hague after consuming sweets containing THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. However, those candies were not from established commercial brands. At the time, Dutch police had already raised concerns about drug smugglers using children’s candy as a cover for trafficking, with some gangs reportedly injecting or infusing candies with THC.
Copies of popular Haribo sweets, including gummy bears laced with cannabis, have also been found for sale online. While counterfeit sweets remain a problem internationally, Haribo has clarified that the packs involved in the current recall were authentic, legally distributed products.
Public Reaction and Consumer Safety
The recall has sparked debate among parents, consumer groups, and lawmakers about food safety standards and the potential risks in the manufacturing and distribution process. While there is no evidence yet of systemic failures on Haribo’s part, the case highlights vulnerabilities in the supply chain that could be exploited.
Consumer watchdogs have praised the rapid response from both Haribo and the NVWA but stress the need for stringent checks moving forward. “Incidents like this should be a wake-up call,” said a spokesperson for a Dutch food safety advocacy group. “We trust brands like Haribo with our children’s wellbeing. That trust must be protected through tighter controls and transparent investigations.”
As the police continue their inquiry, the public is advised to remain cautious and to report any similar incidents. Authorities have set up hotlines for individuals who believe they may have consumed or purchased an affected product.
For now, the mystery remains: how did cannabis get into children’s sweets sold under a trusted brand name? With Haribo and Dutch authorities now collaborating closely, consumers across Europe will be watching for the final verdict.
