Berlin warns after death linked to THC-labelled gummy candies

Berlin issues urgent warning after fatal case linked to THC-labelled gummy candies

An emergency alert was issued in Berlin following a cluster of serious poisonings tied to consumption of gummy sweets marked as THC products. A 42-year-old man died and two other people were rushed to hospital with severe symptoms, authorities say.

Authorities suspect a different, more dangerous contaminant

German health and safety services are investigating three incidents because the victims are believed to have eaten the same or similar products. Although the sweets were labelled as containing THC — the main psychoactive compound in cannabis — clinicians say the patients’ symptoms were not typical for THC alone, prompting concern that a far more dangerous substance could have been present.

The most serious case occurred on a Tuesday in the Neukölln district, when emergency services received a call at around 10:26 a.m. for an intervention on a street in the neighbourhood. Responders found a 42-year-old man in cardiac arrest. Medical teams immediately began resuscitation efforts but, despite these measures, the man died. The body was handed over to police and released for further examinations to determine the exact cause of death.

Investigators noted that four days earlier two other severe cases with very similar symptoms had been recorded in the Friedrichshain neighbourhood. At one address in Friedrichshain rescuers first found a 30-year-old woman with severely impaired consciousness who required urgent medical attention and was taken to hospital. About an hour later, emergency crews were called back to the same location and found a 40-year-old man who also showed severe symptoms and diminished consciousness; he too was hospitalised.

The similarity of symptoms across all three patients, together with reports that they had consumed gummy candies labelled as "THC," led doctors and officials to suspect possible opioid poisoning. Opioid intoxication can be extremely dangerous — in severe cases it may cause loss of consciousness, markedly slowed or stopped breathing, and death. Examples of substances in this group include fentanyl, heroin, morphine, oxycodone and methadone. At this time there is no official confirmation of which specific substance, if any, was present in the contested sweets, nor whether every case involved an identical product. An additional indicator prompting concern was medical treatment given to two of the survivors while they were attended by emergency teams.

Health authorities continue laboratory testing and criminal investigators are examining the circumstances to clarify whether the products were tampered with or contaminated. Officials warn the public to avoid consuming unverified or illicit THC-labelled edibles until more information is available.

Photo: press material from the event