The Short Answer
Yes, Haribo did discontinue their sugar free gummy bears in the United States and Canada due to extreme negative reviews about their laxative effects. The sugar free gummy bears contained a sugar alcohol called Lycasin which can have a laxative effect in large quantities. While they were available for purchase in the US and Canada for a short time, the massive customer backlash led Haribo to discontinue them. However, they are still available in some other countries.
When did Haribo introduce sugar free gummy bears?
Haribo first introduced sugar free gummy bears in Germany in 2012. They were designed to appeal to consumers who wanted to enjoy the delicious Haribo gummy bear flavor without the high sugar content.
The sugar free gummy bears used the sugar substitute Lycasin rather than sugar. Lycasin, also known as maltitol syrup, is a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sweetener in sugar-free candies.
When did Haribo sugar free gummy bears launch in the US?
After having success with the sugar free gummy bears in Germany for a couple years, Haribo decided to release them in the United States and Canada in 2013.
They were available on Amazon and in various grocery and convenience stores. The packaging was similar to regular Haribo gummy bears but specified “sugar free” in large letters.
Initially, some customers were delighted to find the popular Haribo gummy bears in a sugar free version. However, it didn’t take long for major problems to emerge.
What happened when Haribo sugar free gummy bears launched in the US?
Shortly after the sugar free gummy bears became available in the US, customer reviews began piling up on Amazon warning about the devastating gastrointestinal side effects from eating them.
Reviews described extreme digestive issues including painful bloating, violent diarrhea, and horrible cramping. Some customers had to urgently seek out restrooms after eating the bears. Others vowed to never make the mistake of consuming them again.
Here are some examples of actual quotes from customer reviews on Amazon:
“I’ve eaten sugar free candy before with no issue. This is not your average sugar free candy. Not even close. Eating more than 2 in a sitting will cause an urgent bathroom trip.”
“These gummy bears taste like regular gummies but WARNING: Eating more than 2 will give you horrible diarrhea!!”
“Like chewing glass and having it gradually cut small slivers from your sphincter as it works its way through.”
“I got these thinking it would be a nice treat for my husband and me to snack on. It was quite the treat alright. Unless you want to experience projectile vomiting and diarrhea that burns like fire, do not even think of eating these!”
It wasn’t long before news sites and blogs picked up on the shocking story. Headlines like “Sugarless Gummy Bears Are Not Safe for Humans” brought national attention to what became known as “Haribo sugar free gummy bear gate”.
Why did Haribo sugar free gummy bears cause such bad digestive reactions?
The digestive issues were caused by the main sugar alcohol sweetener used in the bears – Lycasin.
Lycasin is derived from wheat or corn. It’s considered a dietary fiber but our bodies can’t fully digest it. Consuming Lycasin does not raise blood glucose levels as much as regular sugar, making it useful as a sweetener in sugar free products.
However, too much Lycasin can have an osmotic effect and cause significant diarrhea by drawing water into the intestines. This effect varies from person to person depending on individual sensitivity.
A typical serving of Haribo sugar free gummy bears contained around 33g of Lycasin – way more than what most people can handle. This extremely high amount of Lycasin is what led to the violently sickening bathroom situations described in hundreds of reviews.
How did Haribo respond to the sugar free gummy bear reviews?
As you can imagine, once the negative effects of their sugar free gummy bears came to light, the reviews and press were a public relations nightmare for Haribo.
At first, they tried to ignore and brush off the complaints. A spokesperson dismissed the reviews as an “Internet phenomenon” that wasn’t based on facts and suggested people were just jumping on the bandwagon.
However, as the ferocious reviews continued piling up and the media coverage intensified, Haribo was forced to change their tune.
Just a couple months after launching in the US, Haribo issued an apology and announced they were pulling the sugar free gummy bears from the American and Canadian markets.
In their statement, Haribo said:
“In the course of the year we have continuously received feedback from our customers about our Sugar Free Gummi Bears and we have come to the conclusion that not all products suit every individual’s nutritional needs…While we receive positive feedback telling us that our Sugar Free Gummi Bears are enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, we are very sorry to hear about the unpleasant gastro-intestinal side effects experienced by some consumers who recently reported problems after consuming the product.”
Where are Haribo sugar free gummy bears still available?
While Haribo was quick to pull their controversial sugar free gummy bears from shelves in the US and Canada, they remain available in some other countries.
For example, many online shops in the UK still sell packs of Haribo sugar free gummy bears, noting that they may have laxative effects. Some European countries like Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, and Denmark also still offer them.
However, the packaging in these countries normally contains warnings about possible laxative effects from over-consumption.
What happened to stocks of sugar free Haribo gummy bears in the US?
Once Haribo decided to discontinue their sugar free gummy bears in the US, retailers were left trying to figure out what to do with their remaining stock.
Most stores pulled the unpopular product from their shelves immediately. However, some sellers continued listing them online at heavily discounted prices just to get rid of their leftover inventory.
Amusingly, some customers actually purchased the clearance bears for pranks or dares rather than consumption. Ebay listings advertised bags of the sugar free gummies for gag gifts or tricks on friends.
Eventually, all the US stock that didn’t end up in trash cans seems to have been used for nefarious pranking purposes.
Were there any other sugar free Haribo products besides gummy bears?
Yes, around the same time that they launched the infamous sugar free gummy bears, Haribo introduced several other sugar free candies to the US market:
– Haribo Sugar Free Gummy Frogs
– Haribo Sugar Free Happy Cola Gummy Bottles
– Haribo Sugar Free Peaches
– Haribo Sugar Free Mixed Fruit Gummies
However, once reports emerged about the extreme laxative issues with the gummy bears, these other sugar free products quickly vanished from store shelves as well.
Haribo likely wanted to prevent any further PR damage and customer distrust by eliminating all traces of their sugar free line.
Are there any sugar free Haribo candies available now?
No, as of 2022, Haribo no longer offers any sugar free candy options in the US market. They seem to have abandoned their sugar free products entirely.
All Haribo candies currently available in American stores like gummy bears, sour gummy worms, peach rings, and licorice contain regular corn syrup or cane sugar sweeteners, not sugar substitutes.
While some fans may miss the concept of sugar free Haribo gummies, the company is clearly not planning to risk another round of explosive disasters.
What are some alternatives to Haribo sugar free gummy bears?
These days, there are lots of other brands producing sugar free gummy candies:
– SmartSweets
– Hi-Chew
– SkinnyDipped
– SmartCandies
– Wholesome Yum
– Shugar Lips
– Zollipops
– Chuckles
– Jelly Belly
However, be sure to check the ingredients and portion sizes carefully. Most use sugar alcohols like Lycasin, erythritol, xylitol, or sorbitol for sweetening. Consuming high amounts can still cause digestive issues, although likely not as violently as the original Haribo sugar free gummy bears.
Your best bet may be starting slowly with a few gummies at a time and seeing how your body reacts. Moderation and close attention to serving sizes is key when enjoying sugar free candies.
What flavors were the Haribo sugar free gummy bears?
The Haribo sugar free gummy bears came in 5 classic flavors:
– Cherry (Red)
– Strawberry (Green)
– Orange (Orange)
– Pineapple (Colorless)
– Raspberry (Yellow)
Aside from being sugar free, customers reported the flavors tasted just like regular Haribo gummy bears. However the digestive effects clearly set them far apart from the original version!
Are there any products like Haribo sugar free gummy bears still available in the US?
No products on the US market today seem to be quite as potent as those notorious Haribo sugar free gummy bears.
However, some sugar free candies contain similar ingredients like Lycasin that could cause issues if over-indulged on. For example:
– SmartSweets Gummy Bears – Contain maltitol syrup and soluble corn fiber
– Zollipops Bears – Erythritol is the main sweetener
– Wholesome Yum Bears – Use xylitol as the sugar substitute
Your best bet is to carefully read labels and practice moderation if sensitive to sugar alcohols. Start with a small serving size to see how your body responds. And steer clear of anything with near the 33g of Lycasin per serving as the Haribo bears.
Did Haribo face any lawsuits over the sugar free gummy bears?
Surprisingly, there are no reports of lawsuits filed against Haribo over the impacts of their sugar free gummy bears.
Despite the rampant stories of painful gastrointestinal distress, explosive diarrhea, and ruined undergarments, no one seems to have pursued legal action.
Perhaps because the negative effects resulted from customers ignoring serving sizes and moderation. Or maybe they didn’t want to draw more attention to their bathroom mishaps.
Nonetheless, Haribo managed to escape without any major legal repercussions. The only real damage was to their reputation and public image, which led them to quickly abandon their sugar free line.
Were the reviews of Haribo sugar free gummy bears exaggerated?
While it’s hard to prove, most signs point to the negative reviews accurately depicting the real effects of overindulging in Haribo’s sugar free gummy bears.
The volume of complaints from unique customers was massive. And grocery store employees verified seeing people frantically rushing to restrooms after eating the bears.
Health experts also back up the potential for maltitol like Lycasin to cause digestive issues when consumed excessively.
And Haribo itself ultimately apologized and admitted the bears caused laxative effects for some consumers.
So the dramatic reviews were most likely truthful accounts of the dreaded “Haribo challenge” experience. Just beware copycats exaggerating stories for internet fame!
Conclusion
In summary:
– Haribo launched sugar free gummy bears in the US in 2013 but quickly pulled them months later due to scathing reviews
– The bears contained high levels of Lycasin maltitol that causes diarrhea when over-consumed
– Haribo discontinued their entire US sugar free line but some products are still available in other countries
– No lawsuits came from the explosive diarrhea incidents
– Alternatives are available but be careful not to overindulge on sugar alcohol sweeteners
So while you can no longer find the notorious Haribo sugar free gummy bears that terrorized customers’ digestive tracts, their legend still lives on as one of the most infamous product failures and internet fiascos. But hopefully the manufacturers have learned an important lesson about formulating snacks that won’t induce violently sudden bathroom runs.
