Uh oh, trouble is bubbling up for Haribo, the beloved gummy brand known for treats like Goldbears, Twin Snakes, and Happy Cola. A recent health scare in the Netherlands has prompted a product recall after several people reported feeling unwell—dizzy, to be specific—after eating Haribo's Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies.
The controversy began when two parents took a bag of the fizzy cola-flavored candies to the police after their children got sick. Upon testing, authorities made a shocking discovery: the gummies were laced with cannabis. That’s right—these sweet and sour candies came with an unexpected and illegal high.
So far, the contamination appears to be limited to specific 1kg bags of the Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies. The affected batch carries the production code L341-4002307906 and a use-by date of January 2026. If you have one of these in your candy stash and you're in the Netherlands, don't eat it. Better yet, return it—Haribo has announced a full refund for any returned bags.
In a statement, the company emphasized its commitment to customer safety: “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.” Though the number of contaminated bags seems small, Haribo has removed the entire product line from shelves in the country out of caution.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has also issued a warning: “Do not eat these sweets.” Given the serious nature of the contamination, they’re urging anyone with the affected batch to dispose of it or return it immediately.
This situation serves as a reminder of how important quality control is in the food industry, especially with products aimed at children. Haribo is now under the microscope, and only time will tell how this impacts consumer trust in the long run.
If you're in the Netherlands and have a sweet tooth, double-check your gummies. And if you’re in the U.S., you can breathe easy—but maybe keep an eye on your candy just in case.
