Hong Kong pulls Haribo cola sweets after cannabis traces found in Netherlands

Hong Kong’s food safety watchdog has instructed businesses to temporarily remove Haribo’s gummy products from shelves as a precautionary measure, following reports from the Netherlands of cannabis contamination in a batch of the popular sweets and an import suspension by Taiwan.

In a reply to the Post, a government spokesman said on Sunday that while there had been no local reports of illness linked to German sweet company Haribo’s cola-flavoured gummies, the Centre for Food Safety was taking action due to the findings overseas.

“There have been no reports of discomfort among [residents] in Hong Kong from consuming the cola-flavoured gummies,” the statement said.

“However, in response to foreign reports and as a precautionary measure, the Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has assisted in notifying the industry to temporarily remove the brand’s gummies from shelves.”

The government confirmed it would conduct tests on the recalled gummies and continue to monitor the situation.

“If any problems are found, corresponding actions will be taken and announcements will be made,” the spokesman added.

The Post has contacted Haribo for comment.