Haribo's sugar-free gummy bears were notoriously discontinued around 2014 due to severe gastrointestinal side effects (gas, bloating, diarrhea) caused by the sugar alcohol Maltitol, despite warnings on the packaging; the infamous reviews went viral, leading to a halt in production, though similar products with sugar alcohols still exist. The product description itself, found on sites like Amazon, often warned that excess consumption could cause intestinal distress, but consumers' extreme reactions led to widespread negative attention and the product's removal.

Key Details:

Discontinuation: Haribo stopped selling the sugar-free version in the U.S. around 2014.

Reason: The primary ingredient, Maltitol (a sugar alcohol), isn't fully digested and ferments in the gut, causing significant laxative effects.

Product Description: The packaging included warnings about potential intestinal distress, but the severity of reactions led to viral reviews.

Symptoms: Consumers reported intense cramping, bloating, flatulence, and severe diarrhea.