How to Shop for Hemp Foods Safely After ASAE Seizes 3,588 Products in Northern Portugal

Portuguese shoppers waking up to a mug of matcha latte or a protein bar may not have noticed, but more than three-and-a-half thousand "natural hemp" items have just vanished from counters in the North. Inspectors say the products, some marketed as wellness food, others as pet treats, crossed a legal red line and could put consumers at risk.

Why this matters now

The latest sweep is significant for several reasons. First, 3,588 seized items is the largest cannabis-linked food operation since the pandemic years. Second, the action was concentrated in Porto, Braga, Aveiro and Guimarães, areas where Portuguese start-ups have been experimenting with hemp ingredients. And third, the watchdog’s move underscores a wider European tug-of-war over what constitutes a safe “novel food.”

A quick snapshot:

• Six criminal cases opened, from alleged trafficking to mislabelling.

• Products ranged from dried hemp flowers to CBD-laced chocolates.

• Inspectors found missing allergen data, no THC values and false therapeutic claims.

Inside the northern sweep

Teams from the food-safety authority visited six specialist outlets that sell supplements and functional foods. Behind glass jars labelled “Relax Mix” and “Hemp Pollen,” officers discovered leafy tops of Cannabis sativa L., concentrated resin blocks, and pet snacks blended with unapproved extracts. Lab reports later showed THC levels above the trace limits allowed for animal feed and human fare. One source close to the investigation said some stock had been imported in bulk from Central Europe and repackaged locally without Portuguese instructions, in breach of EU labelling law.

The rules in black and white

For the lay reader, Portugal’s cannabis rules can feel like a labyrinth. In short:

Seeds, seed oil, seed flour and water-infused leaves are the only hemp parts that may be sold as food—provided THC stays below 3 mg/kg (or 7.5 mg/kg for oil).

Anything containing isolated cannabinoids such as CBD is automatically a “novel food”. That triggers a rigorous pre-market authorisation none of the seized brands had obtained.

Flowers, buds, resins or hash cannot appear in snacks at all, no matter how compelling the marketing. Extracts from those parts fall under the narcotics decree-law 15/93.

Health claims—“stress relief,” “sleep aid,” “pain free life”—are banned unless cleared by the European Food Safety Authority.

Failing any of the above can lead to heavy fines, product destruction and, when trafficking is suspected, prison sentences.

Health experts raise red flags

Clinicians worry that edible cannabis hides dangers the casual consumer may ignore. Delayed onset, sometimes two hours or more, tempts users to snack again before the first dose kicks in. Over-intoxication, anxiety and in rare cases psychosis have landed patients in emergency rooms. Paediatrician Vera Almeida warns that sweets shaped like gummy bears blur the line between confectionery and drug: a toddler mistaking them for regular candy could ingest a day’s worth of adult THC in minutes.

Nutrition scientist Gonçalo Raposo adds a different concern: the long-term effects of daily CBD intake remain largely uncharted. “We simply don’t have multi-year data on liver or hormonal impacts,” he says, urging policymakers to keep edible cannabinoids off the market until harder science emerges.

Retail and supplier fallout

Several northern retailers that built a niche around “plant-based calm” now face stock losses running into tens of thousands of euros. One Guimarães shop owner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said suppliers assured him their import papers were in order. A Porto distributor countered that Portuguese law is out of step with “the booming €4 billion global CBD snacks sector” and called for clearer pathways to legal compliance. Industry lobbyists plan to raise the issue in the Assembly of the Republic this spring, but for now shelves remain bare.

What to check before buying

Shoppers keen on hemp foods can still find safe, legal options. Regulators advise looking for:• A full ingredient list that names hemp seeds or seed oil—not vague terms like “cannabis extract.”• THC values in mg/kg printed near the nutrition panel.• A Portuguese address for the responsible operator, required under EU 1169/2011.• No medical promises or miracle claims anywhere on the label.

If in doubt, consumers can scan the package with the free ASAE app or call the 808 241 107 hotline.

Next steps: enforcement and EU debates

ASAE teams say they will continue “surprise visits” through Carnival and into summertime festivals, where hemp snacks tend to pop up. Meanwhile, Brussels is reviewing a proposal to lift the EU-wide THC cultivation cap to 0.5 %, a move that could reshape both farming and food rules. Until then, Portuguese law remains among the bloc’s strictest. For entrepreneurs, that means careful reading of the small print—or risking that blue-and-white ASAE tape sealing their stockroom door. The message, for now, is blunt: when it comes to cannabis-infused foods, play by the book or prepare to write off your inventory.