Haribo has recalled its entire stock of gummy candy after three packs were found contaminated with an illegal drug, suspected to be MDMA (ecstasy). The recall was prompted by a report on April 25, 2025, from a consumer in Texas who found a suspicious substance in a pack of Haribo Goldbears, leading to the discovery of two additional contaminated packs in Florida and California. The contamination is believed to be linked to a third-party supplier providing gelatin to Haribo’s facility in Austria, with Austrian authorities investigating possible sabotage or an error in the supply chain.
The incident took place in the Netherlands, where multiple members of one family became sick after eating Haribo’s Happy Cola F!ZZ candy, according to NL Times.
Haribo is urging customers not to consume any gummy products purchased after March 1, 2025, and to send unopened or opened packages directly to the company for testing, rather than returning them to stores. Customers can contact Haribo at recall@haribo.com or (800) 555-1212 to arrange returns and receive full refunds, with no receipt required. The company has set up a dedicated website, www.haribo.com/recall, for updates and instructions. The recall affects all Haribo gummy products, including Goldbears, Starmix, and others, sold in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are overseeing the recall, classifying it as a Class I recall due to the serious health risks posed by MDMA, which can cause severe reactions, especially in children. As of May 30, 2025, no illnesses have been reported, but Haribo has halted production at the affected facility and is cooperating with authorities. Posts on X reflect public concern, with some users warning parents to check children’s candy.
For more details, visit the FDA’s recall page at www.fda.gov or Haribo’s recall site at www.haribo.com/recall. Always verify product safety with official sources before consuming.