THE HEALTH MINISTRIES OF THE VARIOUS STATES IN GERMANY are in a quandry today following the revelation that Red Bull Cola being produced in Germany and Austria contains trace amounts of cocaine.
The 0.4 milligrams per liter of cola are presumably the traces of the coca plant extract used as flavoring. The amount is miniscule and poses no health hazard at all. But the strict Narcotics Act prohibits any amount of such controlled substances and now millions of cans of Red Bull are in legal non-compliance. Der Spiegel is REPORTING:
According to the company, Red Bull uses an extract of coca leaves in the drink — the same botanical ingredients used in the production of cocaine — but insists that the product has no health risks. “The current test results have confirmed that the plant extract is harmless,” the company said.
Most food regulators seem to agree that the health risks from such a tiny amount of the drug are relatively nonexistent. “No health danger exists whatsoever,” said Wilhelm Deitermann, spokesman for North Rhine Westphalia’s consumer protection ministry.
However, the discovery has created a unique situation regarding the legality of the product, if not the safety of it. The traces of cocaine mean the drink could fall under the jurisdiction of Germany’s Narcotics Act.
“The cola is not harmful, but it violates food law,” said Thomas Schulz, a spokesman for the Thuringian Ministry of Health.
Regulators are working to determine the next legal step, said Andreas Zapf, president of the Bavarian Office for Health and Food Safety. In Germany, the 16 federal states are reponsible for food safety.
Red Bull’s slogan, “Gives You Wings,” takes on a new meaning now.
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