April 24, 2026, 4:22 am | Read time: 3 minutes
It’s not always the big innovations that change lives and make everyday tasks easier. Often, it’s the small hacks that make you wonder how you ever managed without them. A trick has been circulating online for some time now that takes the consumption of gummy candy to a whole new level. myHOMEBOOK tested it.
Gummy candies are undoubtedly among the most popular snacks in Germany. Statistically, our nation consumes around 200,000 tons annually, which is about 6 kilograms per person per year. Little attention is paid to the packaging. It’s quickly torn open, half emptied, and haphazardly rolled up–the routine is the same in most households. Simply tearing open the bag or ripping off a corner isn’t exactly the most creative solution for opening it. However, a technique has emerged that has been shared millions of times online. myHOMEBOOK tested the gummy candy bag trick, known online under the hashtag “haribohack.”
Does the Gummy Candy Bag Trick Really Work?
On every conventional gummy candy bag, there is a small notch at the top, similar to an eyelet, where a tab is located. According to the trick, this is supposed to make opening and closing the bag easier.
To open the gummy candy bag, you grab the tab on the back of the package and pull it toward the bottom of the bag, in a controlled manner along a predetermined seam. This creates an elongated opening. The contents can now be easily accessed and are more visible, unlike when you open the bag from the top and have to reach deep inside. The result is clever and ingenious.
Also interesting: Hotel trick for less dust in the home
After snacking, you close the bag again. To do this, you pull the top part of the bag down a bit so that the tab, along with the long, pulled-down plastic strip, can be pushed through the small eyelet. Then, fold the bag in the middle so you can wrap the plastic strip tightly around it and insert it through the eyelet again. It should catch on the edge of the eyelet and hold the bag securely closed.
Don’t Tear Open Flour Bags! There’s Allegedly a Better Method
Simple Trick Helps Find the Start of Cling Wrap
Trick with a Catch
While the opening worked flawlessly in the test, the first major problems appeared when closing it. Even though all steps were followed according to the instructions, the tab simply wouldn’t catch behind the eyelet. Instead, it kept slipping through. Unfortunately, the packaging isn’t securely closed this way. On the plus side, in the myHOMEBOOK test, the plastic strip wasn’t too short, nor did the plastic tear during the closing process. Other testers online mentioned both issues.
However, not all packaging can be opened this way. Some bags either don’t have the mentioned tab or aren’t equipped with a tear line in the plastic that allows for this kind of opening. Then, the trick quickly becomes a hassle. Particularly thin bags or those with manufacturing defects can also tear easily this way.
Sophisticated Design or Pure Coincidence?
Many thought the notch on the bag was a sophisticated design feature for this exact trick. In reality, it has a completely different, more practical function: It’s meant for hanging the package in stores. This was also confirmed by Haribo itself. The idea of repurposing the opening is creative and shows how resourceful people can be. Haribo agrees–the company has responded and is pleased with the many original ideas.