Haribo recalls sweets in Belgium due to possible presence of cannabis
Candy maker Haribo has recalled a batch of sweets in Belgium after traces of cannabis were found in some products sold in the Netherlands. There have been no reports of people falling ill after eating the sweets in Belgium yet.
The company is recalling 1 kg bags of Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies with a best-before date of January 2026, as consuming them may cause health problems such as dizziness.
The batch number of the product matches that of the sweets found to contain cannabis in the Netherlands. The contamination was discovered after several people, including children, reported falling ill after eating the sweets.
Three bags were found to be contaminated with the drug in the Netherlands. “How the cannabis ended up in the sweets is still unknown. The police are conducting further investigation into this,” the Dutch food safety agency told press agency ANP.
Preventive recall
As a precaution, Haribo is now recalling its entire stock in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It is not clear in which Belgian shops the products were sold.
“The authorities' investigation relates to a limited number of reports and one specific product in eastern Netherlands. In consultation with the authorities, we have launched a preventive recall as a precautionary measure," said Patrick Tax, marketing manager for Haribo in the Netherlands and Belgium.
No reports of illness
The Belgian food safety agency, FASFC, has not received any reports of people falling ill after eating the sweets in Belgium. The agency recommends anyone who has eaten the sweets to contact their doctor immediately.
Haribo is asking Belgian consumers who have the product to send it, along with the packaging, to the Belgian head office: HARIBO Belgium bv, Duffelsesteenweg 233, 2550 Kontich. Consumers are asked to include their details and bank account number so that they can be reimbursed.
© PHOTO CHRISTOPH HARDT / IMAGO
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