Red Bull Refutes Germanys Cocaine Claim

SANTA MONICA, Calif.In response to Germanys ban on Red Bull Cola due to the findings of trace amounts in the drink, Red Bull issued the following statement.

Although only de-cocainized coca leaf extracts are used in Red Bull Simply Cola, we take the German authoritys concerns seriously and had our product analyzed by an independent accredited institute which has confirmed that alkaloids (cocaine) from the coca leaf are not detectable in our product. Further, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) confirmed publicly that the ingredients contained in Red Bull Simply Cola present no risk to human health and no risk of any undesired pharmacological effects including, any potential narcotic effects.

De-cocainized coca leaf extracts are used as flavoring in food products around the world and are considered to be safe. The FDA allows the use of de-cocainized coca in food products in the United States. Red Bull Simply Cola and other food products containing such extracts may therefore be sold legally in the United States. Other countries have similarly recognized the safety of using the ingredient, the company said.