Cocaine Found in German Red Bull?
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Energy Drink Fans Beware!
On May 25, 2009 I heard about Germany pulling red bull from store shelves after cocaine was found in it. Makes you wonder about all sorts of other energy drinks out there. While sources say the cocaine traces were minute that still was a shock to me. I know a lot of people who drink massive amounts of energy drinks so any amount of cocaine or any other harmful substance is frightening.
Dear readers I’d say be very careful about what you put in your body. When I was doing research I found out that more than 3 billion red bulls were sold in 2006. I am curious to know how long cocaine’s been making the rounds in the drink. Were the Berlin Red Bulls the first? or just a symptom of a more widespread problem?
I found out that Red Bull was figuratively called liquid cocaine since it first started hitting the markets. I have to wonder when it went from figurative to literal, and who needs to be held responsible for spiking the drink. Red bull has already been scandalized by dangers associated with it and the findings in Germany are just one more scandal. I used to watch the commercials with all their hype, but I think a persons health is far more important than the profits of Energy drink marketeers.
Thanks for reading and demand safer foods and drinks.
God Bless
5 Comments
Several people I know told me it made them feel like vomiting.
Hey JupiterKing, nice of you to edit to remove erroneous stats without mentioning the change. Earlier this evening (GMT +10:00) I swear your article said that the amount of cocaine found was 0.4 micrograms per Litre. The Time article says 0.4 micrograms per can. Your article no longer specifes the amount present at all.
Regardless, your calm advice to TOTALLY FLIP OUT probably isn’t sound, as Time reporters calculate that the average person would need to drink 12,000 Litres to register any effect from the narcotic, and I think thats a really frugal estimate of the amount of red bull that would need to be consumed, as that would mean a dose of about half a milligram, whereas at least 3mg of cocaine per Kg bodyweight is considered a low dose. (that’d be 0.24 grams for an 80kg person, or 1.5 million cans of red bull)
This is not a case of spiking, it is from the presence of the compound in the coca plant, used in red bull for its flavour, as it is in coca-cola. The presence of the cocaine compound in this plant is 100% natural, true fact. Cocaine is only dangerous after a ton of processing to extract and concentrate it. Drink up, energy drink addicts.
And jewelsofmine, that’s probably to do with another dangerous compound present in the drink which is totally legal, called β-D-fructofuranosyl-(2→1)-α-D-glucopyranoside. This compound produces a short term sensation of euphoria, but as the high comes down, nausea and depression are commonly experienced. Its consumption has been linked to many deadly diseases, as well as weight gain.
TL;DR: read the Time article, its better researched and more interesting.
correction I meant the article never **Mentioned** the amount nor does the article say to “totally flip out” so take care
I am not certain how much cocaine is too much, as “Tweedledee” mentions but I am concerned about the contents of anything I drink or consume. I’ve given up pop and am trying to avoid sugar because of the adverse effects on our health, so probably would not drink Red Bull any way. Thanks, John, for your concern. Your heart is in the right place.
Really, any amount of an addictive like cocaine, no matter how minute the quantity is unacceptable to me. I think people should be more aware and demand for safer products. I even wonder why people have Red Bull in the first place. I found that it tastes horrible and it failed to create any kind of the so called euphoric sensation in me. It’s all hype and marketing that makes products like these successful.