Germany – Ban of Red Bull Cola after Traces of Cocaine Were Found

Germany – About a year ago, the makers of Red Bull, the famous caffeine-loaded energy drink, decided to come out with a soda, unsurprisingly named Red Bull Cola. The shared name implied the same big kick. But could the cola’s boost supposedly “100% natural” come from something else? Officials in Germany worry that they’ve found the answer cocaine. And now they have prohibited the soda’s sale in six states across the country and may recommend a nation-wide ban.

“The [Health Institute in the state of North Rhine Westphalia] examined Red Bull Cola in an elaborate chemical process and found traces of cocaine,” Bernhard Kuehnle, head of the food safety department at Germany’s federal ministry for consumer protection, told the German press. According to this analysis, the 0.13 micrograms of cocaine per can of the drink does not pose a serious health threat you’d have to drink 12,000 liters of Red Bull Cola for negative affects to be felt but it was enough to cause concern.
Kuehnle’s agency is due to give its final verdict on Wednesday when experts publish their report.

Red Bull has always been upfront about the recipe for its new cola. Its website boasts colorful pictures of coca, cardamom and Kola nuts, along with other key “natural” ingredients. The company insists, however, that coca leaves are used as a flavoring agent only after removing the illegal cocaine alkaloid.

“De-cocainized extract of coca leaf is used worldwide in foods as a natural flavoring,” said a Red Bull spokesman in response to the German government’s announcement. Though the cocaine alkaloid is one of 10 alkaloids in coca leaves and represents only 0.8% of the chemical make-up of the plant, it’s removal is mandated by international anti-narcotics agencies when used outside the Andean region.

In Germany, the Red Bull spokesman insisted that his company’s product, along with others containing the coca leaf extract are considered safe in Europe and the U.S. And already, some experts have come to Red Bull’s defense.

But no one knows where Red Bull Cola’s coca leaves come from or where they are processed. Red Bull did not respond to immediate requests for comment and Rauch Trading AG, the Austria-based food company that actually manufactures Red Bull Cola was quick to say that they are not allowed to speak about the product.