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Euronews
a day ago
- Health
- Euronews
Popular sweets recalled in Belgium over cannabis in Dutch gummies
Candy manufacturer Haribo has recalled its 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz in Belgium after traces of cannabis were found in some bags in the Netherlands, the Belgian food agency FAVV-AFSCA confirmed on Monday. In a joint press release with the agency, Haribo noted that consumption of these sweets can lead to health complaints such as dizziness. The withdrawal concerns large bags of fizzy colas with production code L341-4002307906 — the same batch that was recalled earlier in the Netherlands. "Haribo has carried out this recall in Belgium as a precautionary measure," Belgian food agency spokesperson Liesbeth Van de Voorde told Euronews. She noted that, so far, no reports have been received in Belgium of people becoming unwell after eating the sweets. "We have set up a consumer hotline for this purpose, and we have not received any news of issues in Belgium." People are strongly advised not to eat the recalled sweets. In case of consumption, it is recommended to contact a GP immediately. The one-kilogram bags of sour candies were already withdrawn from sale in the Netherlands following reports that several people in the country, including adults and children, reported feeling unwell after eating these sweets. A sample testing revealed that the product was laced with cannabis after police were notified of the issue. Dutch authorities are now investigating how the candy became contaminated with these drugs. In the Netherlands, only three bags are involved so far. Still, Haribo is recalling the entire stock in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. "The authorities' investigation concerns a limited number of reports and one specific product in the east of the Netherlands," Patrick Tax, marketing head for Haribo Netherlands and Belgium, told domestic media in Belgium. The withdrawal only concerns Haribo's 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz with an expiry date until January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906. It is not clear which Belgian shops were selling these large packs. Van de Voorde added that this is the only product for which the agency has received information, meaning no other products are currently deemed a risk. Instead of returning it to the store where they purchased it, consumers are asked to send the product to the Belgian head office. Affected consumers should provide their details and bank account number to receive a refund. Ursula von der Leyen has endorsed a new bill rapidly making its way through the US Senate that would impose sweeping sanctions against Russia in a bid to force the Kremlin into serious negotiations for a lasting peace in Ukraine, despite the law having the potential to wreak economic havoc on several countries of the European Union. The bill, jointly promoted by Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, has amassed more than 80 signatures in the 100-seat chamber, an impressive amount of bipartisan support that could help convince President Donald Trump to move forward with the plan. Trump has so far refused to apply further pressure on Moscow, causing dismay among European allies, who have pledged to move forward with restrictions on their own. After a "good" meeting with Senator Graham on Monday, von der Leyen suggested the draft law work in tandem with the next package of EU sanctions, meant to target Russia's financial sector, the "shadow fleet" and the Nord Stream pipelines. Brussels also wants to lower the G7 price cap on Russian seaborne oil, which has remained untouched at $60 per barrel since its introduction in late 2022. The president of the European Commission "made the objective clear: we need a real ceasefire, we need Russia at the negotiating table, and we need to end this war. Pressure works, as the Kremlin understands nothing else," her office said. "This is why the President welcomed that Senator Graham committed to ramping up pressure on Russia and moving ahead with the bill in (the) Senate next week." Under the draft law promoted by Graham and Blumenthal, the US would slap a wide range of primary sanctions and duties on Russia, such as broad prohibitions on financial transactions with entities owned or affiliated with the Kremlin. Most notably, it would also introduce secondary tariffs of "not less" than 500% on any country that "knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation". In theory, this provision would hit hard several member states that continue to rely on Moscow for their energy needs. As of today, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal buy Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG); Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria buy Russian pipeline gas; and Hungary and Slovakia buy Russian pipeline oil. Additionally, five countries – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland – operate Russian-made nuclear reactors that rely on specific Russian-made fuels. The bill, however, features a clause that would allow the US president to spare specific countries, goods and services from the 500% tariff through a one-time waiver – as long as doing so is justified for "national security interests". It was not immediately clear if von der Leyen discussed this exemption during her meeting with Graham. Her positive words following the encounter suggest the Commission chief is confident the bloc will manage to avoid the blowback. Both Graham and Blumenthal have pointed the finger at China and India as the prime clients of Russian energy and, therefore, the prime targets of the 500% tariffs. After a joint trip to Kyiv and Paris, the senators hailed new momentum to advance their bill, warning the window to prevent a renewed Russian offensive was closing fast. "The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin," Graham told the Associated Press. "We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine." Graham called the draft "the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate", while Blumenthal said the proposed sanctions would be "bone-crushing" and place Russia's economy "on a trade island". Officials in Brussels believe the combination of 500% tariffs with a lower price cap would have a devastating impact on Moscow, as global clients would rush to flee Russian energy and precipitate a plunge in revenue for the federal budget. Still, the White House has made no indication it is willing to amend the G7 price cap. "These steps, taken together with US measures, would sharply increase the joint impact of our sanctions," von der Leyen said, according to the read-out. "Combined with actions targeting Russia's shadow fleet limiting Russia's ability to transport its oil, it's an effective measure to dry up the Kremlin's resources to wage the war." The meeting between von der Leyen and Graham comes as delegations from Ukraine and Russia meet in Istanbul for a new round of face-to-face negotiations.
Euronews
a day ago
- Health
- Euronews
Popular sweets recalled in Belgium after cannabis found in Dutch gummi
Candy manufacturer Haribo has recalled its 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz in Belgium after traces of cannabis were found in some bags in the Netherlands, the Belgian food agency FAVV-AFSCA confirmed on Monday. In a joint press release with the agency, Haribo noted that consumption of these sweets can lead to health complaints such as dizziness. The withdrawal concerns large bags of fizzy colas with production code L341-4002307906 — the same batch that was recalled earlier in the Netherlands. "Haribo has carried out this recall in Belgium as a precautionary measure," Belgian food agency spokesperson Liesbeth Van de Voorde told Euronews. She noted that, so far, no reports have been received in Belgium of people becoming unwell after eating the sweets. "We have set up a consumer hotline for this purpose, and we have not received any news of issues in Belgium." People are strongly advised not to eat the recalled sweets. In case of consumption, it is recommended to contact a GP immediately. The one-kilogram bags of sour candies were already withdrawn from sale in the Netherlands following reports that several people in the country, including adults and children, reported feeling unwell after eating these sweets. A sample testing revealed that the product was laced with cannabis after police were notified of the issue. Dutch authorities are now investigating how the candy became contaminated with these drugs. In the Netherlands, only three bags are involved so far. Still, Haribo is recalling the entire stock in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. "The authorities' investigation concerns a limited number of reports and one specific product in the east of the Netherlands," Patrick Tax, marketing head for Haribo Netherlands and Belgium, told domestic media in Belgium. The withdrawal only concerns Haribo's 1-kilogram bags of Happy Cola Fizz with an expiry date until January 2026 and production code L341-4002307906. It is not clear which Belgian shops were selling these large packs. Van de Voorde added that this is the only product for which the agency has received information, meaning no other products are currently deemed a risk. Instead of returning it to the store where they purchased it, consumers are asked to send the product to the Belgian head office. Affected consumers should provide their details and bank account number to receive a refund. Ursula von der Leyen has endorsed a new bill rapidly making its way through the US Senate that would impose sweeping sanctions against Russia in a bid to force the Kremlin into serious negotiations for a lasting peace in Ukraine, despite the law having the potential to wreak economic havoc on several countries of the European Union. The bill, jointly promoted by Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, has amassed more than 80 signatures in the 100-seat chamber, an impressive amount of bipartisan support that could help convince President Donald Trump to move forward with the plan. Trump has so far refused to apply further pressure on Moscow, causing dismay among European allies, who have pledged to move forward with restrictions on their own. After a "good" meeting with Senator Graham on Monday, von der Leyen suggested the draft law work in tandem with the next package of EU sanctions, meant to target Russia's financial sector, the "shadow fleet" and the Nord Stream pipelines. Brussels also wants to lower the G7 price cap on Russian seaborne oil, which has remained untouched at $60 per barrel since its introduction in late 2022. The president of the European Commission "made the objective clear: we need a real ceasefire, we need Russia at the negotiating table, and we need to end this war. Pressure works, as the Kremlin understands nothing else," her office said. "This is why the President welcomed that Senator Graham committed to ramping up pressure on Russia and moving ahead with the bill in (the) Senate next week." Under the draft law promoted by Graham and Blumenthal, the US would slap a wide range of primary sanctions and duties on Russia, such as broad prohibitions on financial transactions with entities owned or affiliated with the Kremlin. Most notably, it would also introduce secondary tariffs of "not less" than 500% on any country that "knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation". In theory, this provision would hit hard several member states that continue to rely on Moscow for their energy needs. As of today, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal buy Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG); Italy, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria buy Russian pipeline gas; and Hungary and Slovakia buy Russian pipeline oil. Additionally, five countries – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland – operate Russian-made nuclear reactors that rely on specific Russian-made fuels. The bill, however, features a clause that would allow the US president to spare specific countries, goods and services from the 500% tariff through a one-time waiver – as long as doing so is justified for "national security interests". It was not immediately clear if von der Leyen discussed this exemption during her meeting with Graham. Her positive words following the encounter suggest the Commission chief is confident the bloc will manage to avoid the blowback. Both Graham and Blumenthal have pointed the finger at China and India as the prime clients of Russian energy and, therefore, the prime targets of the 500% tariffs. After a joint trip to Kyiv and Paris, the senators hailed new momentum to advance their bill, warning the window to prevent a renewed Russian offensive was closing fast. "The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin," Graham told the Associated Press. "We're going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine." Graham called the draft "the most draconian bill I've ever seen in my life in the Senate", while Blumenthal said the proposed sanctions would be "bone-crushing" and place Russia's economy "on a trade island". Officials in Brussels believe the combination of 500% tariffs with a lower price cap would have a devastating impact on Moscow, as global clients would rush to flee Russian energy and precipitate a plunge in revenue for the federal budget. Still, the White House has made no indication it is willing to amend the G7 price cap. "These steps, taken together with US measures, would sharply increase the joint impact of our sanctions," von der Leyen said, according to the read-out. "Combined with actions targeting Russia's shadow fleet limiting Russia's ability to transport its oil, it's an effective measure to dry up the Kremlin's resources to wage the war." The meeting between von der Leyen and Graham comes as delegations from Ukraine and Russia meet in Istanbul for a new round of face-to-face negotiations.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Haribo recalls sweets in the Netherlands after traces of cannabis found
Space cake, weed cookies and hash brownies may be familiar fare in the Netherlands, but cannabis in bags of children's candy is not and Haribo has recalled its Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets after traces of the drug were found inside. Several people, including children, suffered 'health complaints, such as dizziness' after eating sweets from three 1kg packs, the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in the Netherlands said, adding that a full recall had been undertaken as a precaution. 'How the cannabis ended up in the sweets is still unknown,' a spokesperson for the authority told the Dutch news agency ANP. 'The police are investigating the matter further.' The authority said the packs concerned were genuine Haribo products. Dutch police said in a statement that a couple from the Twente region in the east of the country had brought a pack of the cola-bottle-shaped sweets to their local police station after their young children had become 'quite sick' after eating them. Forensic testing established the presence of cannabis. 'We want to know exactly how it got into the candy and, of course, how the bags ended up in the store,' a police spokesperson, Chantal Westerhoff, said. The sweets are sold in several pack sizes and only those in 1kg bags with a use-by date of January 2026 and a specific product code are affected, Haribo said, adding that a full refund would be paid for all packs returned. Patrick Tax, vice-president of marketing at Haribo, said the recall concerned 'a limited number of cases' in the east of the country. 'The safety of our consumers is our highest priority and Haribo takes this incident very seriously,' he said. 'This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts,' Tax told Agence France-Presse. The NVWA warned people bluntly: 'Do not eat these sweets.' In 2023, six children aged between four and 14 were taken ill in The Hague after eating candy containing THC, one of the active ingredients in cannabis, but the sweets concerned were not regular commercial products. Police said drug smugglers were increasingly using children's sweets as cover and cited several examples of gangs injecting THC into candy. Copies of Haribo's popular gummy bears containing THC can also be found online. - The Guardian
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Haribo recalls ‘Happy Cola' sweets in Netherlands after cannabis found
A shopper looks at Haribo candies from Germany at Economy Candy in New York City on April 4, 2025. (Richard Drew / AP Photo) The HAGUE, Netherlands -- Haribo recalled its 'Happy Cola' sweets in the Netherlands on Thursday after cannabis was discovered in the packets and several people, including children, fell ill. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) said only three bags of the 'Happy Cola F!ZZ' were affected but a complete recall was undertaken as a precaution. 'There are bags in circulation with sweets that can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed,' said the NVWA in a statement. NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad told AFP: 'Cannabis was found in the cola bottles in question,' referring to the sweets' shape. 'The police reported this to the NVWA after several people, both children and adults, became ill after eating the cola bottles.' Ahyad said police were now investigating how the cannabis made its way into the sweet bags. 'After consultation with the NVWA and as is customary in these types of situations, Haribo has issued a safety warning,' said Ahyad. 'Do not eat the sweets,' warned the NVWA. Patrick Tax, marketing vice-president at Haribo, said the product recall concerned 'a limited number of cases' with one product in the east of the country. 'The safety of our consumers is our highest priority and Haribo takes this incident very seriously,' Tax said in a statement sent to AFP. 'This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts around the contamination,' he added.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Haribo recalls sweets in the Netherlands after traces of cannabis found
Space cake, weed cookies and hash brownies may be familiar fare in the Netherlands, but cannabis in bags of children's candy is not and Haribo has recalled its Happy Cola F!ZZ sweets after traces of the drug were found inside. Several people including children suffered 'health complaints, such as dizziness' after eating sweets from three 1kg packs, the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in the Netherlands said, adding that a full recall had been undertaken as a precaution. 'How the cannabis ended up in the sweets is still unknown,' a spokesperson for the authority told the Dutch news agency ANP. 'The police are investigating the matter further.' The authority said the packs concerned were genuine Haribo products. Dutch police said in a statement that a couple from the Twente region in the east of the country had brought a pack of the cola-bottle shaped sweets to their local police station after their young children had become 'quite sick' after eating them. Forensic testing has established the presence of cannabis. 'We want to know exactly how it got into the candy and, of course, how the bags ended up in the store,' a police spokesperson, Chantal Westerhoff, said. The sweets are sold in several pack sizes and only those in 1kg bags with a use-by date of January 2026 and a specific product code are affected, Haribo said, adding that a full refund would be paid for all packs returned. Patrick Tax, vice-president of marketing at Haribo, said the recall concerned 'a limited number of cases' in the east of the country. 'The safety of our consumers is our highest priority and Haribo takes this incident very seriously,' he said. 'This is a live issue and we are working closely with the Dutch authorities to support their investigation and establish the facts,' Tax told Agence-France Presse. The NVWA warned people bluntly: 'Do not eat these sweets.' In 2023, six children aged between four and 14 were taken ill in The Hague after eating candy containing THC, one of the active ingredients in cannabis, but the sweets concerned were not regular commercial products. Police said drug smugglers were increasingly using children's sweets as cover and cited several examples of gangs injecting THC into candy. Copies of Haribo's popular gummy bears containing THC can also be found online.
