1. syb0rg's Avatar
    NOT 8900 related - sorry wrong forum - just saw that......

    Yahoo! News


    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 on Sunday. 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 L of Red Bull Cola for negative effects 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. (See pictures of America's cannabis culture.)

    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 makeup of the plant, it's removal is mandated by international antinarcotics agencies when used outside the Andean region. (Check out a story on how Bolivia is preaching the virtues of coca culture.)

    Meanwhile, in Bolivia, halfway around the world and smack in the middle of the Andes, the controversy is causing chuckles. Coca is a fundamental part of Andean culture and for years, Bolivians have tried to get the world to understand that the leaf is not a drug if it's not put through the extensive chemical process that yields cocaine. Left-wing President Evo Morales, a coca-grower himself, has made coca validation a personal quest, chewing leaves in front of world leaders and press cameras during his travels. "Let's say [Red Bull Cola] doesn't take out the cocaine alkaloid. Have any of those millions of people across the world who have drunk that soda ever gotten sick or felt drugged?" asks Dionicio Nunez, a coca-growers' leader from the Yungas region. "We've always known that coca isn't harmful. Now maybe others will realize it too."

    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. "There is no scientific basis for this ban on Red Bull Cola because the levels of cocaine found are so small," Fritz Soergel, the head of the Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research in the city of Nuremberg, tells TIME. "And it's not even cocaine itself. According to the tests we carried out, it's a nonactive degradation product with no effect on the body. If you start examining lots of other drinks and food so carefully, you'd find a lot of surprising things," he says. (Read about the anti-Red Bull: a drink that can calm you down.)

    Coca leaves, of course, have a long record in modern soda-pop history. Most prominently, there was Coca-Cola whose original 19th century formula used unaltered coca leaves. In the early 1900s the company said it would only use "spent," or decocainized leaves, though the company refuses to confirm whether leaves in any form are still used.

    But the problem is when it comes to coca and cocaine, it's not just a health concern, but a legal one. Since 1961, trade of coca outside the Andean region — where people have chewed or brewed coca in tea to stave off hunger and exhaustion for centuries — has been prohibited unless the cocaine alkaloid is removed. Few companies in the world have authorization to trade in the leaf and most are pharmaceutical companies that perform this decocainizing process. The most prominent is New Jersey-based Stepan Chemical Company which has been reported to supply Coca-Cola with its narcotic-free derivative.

    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 tell TIME that they are not allowed to speak about the product. Meanwhile, Bolivia, which has lots of coca leaves to sell, is getting a kick out of the fact Red Bull Cola admits to using coca in any form (since Coca-Cola evades the question). Ironically, the drink is not actually available yet in Bolivia. But, the locals say, this is a great opportunity to show that coca isn't harmful — with or without the cocaine alkaloid. With Reporting by Tristana Moore/Berlin

    in 8900 new : I LOVE MINE
    Last edited by mjneid; 05-26-09 at 01:09 PM.
    05-26-09 01:01 PM
  2. lazerus's Avatar
    Awesome article, thanks.
    05-26-09 01:05 PM
  3. maserati13's Avatar
    That is for RedBull Cola only...Thank God...not a fan of the RedBull Cola but can't live without my sugar free
    05-26-09 01:06 PM
  4. DawgMan's Avatar
    They always said it "Gives you wiings".
    05-26-09 01:07 PM
  5. aristile's Avatar
    This makes the Dave Chappelle "Red Balls" skit even funnier:

    Red Balls .... Cocaine in a can, babay!!
    05-26-09 01:10 PM
  6. fordracer's Avatar
    that will make the bull fly now.ha.ha.,very good article.
    05-26-09 01:14 PM
  7. pkcable's Avatar
    Snoops say FALSE!!!!!!!

    snopes.com: Bull Marketed


    Oops I'm wrong you meant the cola, this site says's it's harmless....

    Health officials say cocaine in Red Bull Cola harmless - The Local
    05-26-09 01:26 PM
  8. syb0rg's Avatar
    Snoops say FALSE!!!!!!!

    snopes.com: Bull Marketed
    Were talking Cocaine - that snoopes article says nothing about cocaine.
    05-26-09 01:29 PM
  9. Tlynnsmith's Avatar
    Snoops say FALSE!!!!!!!

    snopes.com: Bull Marketed
    Snopes is talking about Red Bull, not Red Bull Cola, and...not cocaine.
    05-26-09 01:31 PM
  10. Chrisy's Avatar
    Red Bull is also Vegan! That is good news for me!

    IS RED BULL ENERGY DRINK SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS?

    Red Bull� Energy Drink is suitable for vegetarians. Red Bull� Energy Drink does not contain any animal products or substances derived from animals.


    Red Bull Energy Drink - USA
    05-26-09 01:34 PM
  11. syb0rg's Avatar
    Red Bull is also Vegan! That is good news for me!

    IS RED BULL ENERGY DRINK SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS?

    Red Bull� Energy Drink is suitable for vegetarians. Red Bull� Energy Drink does not contain any animal products or substances derived from animals.


    Red Bull Energy Drink - USA
    So for get the cocaine that is in the RB Cola? and it's "okay" to drink just because it has no tasty animals or animal by products?
    05-26-09 01:37 PM
  12. Chrisy's Avatar
    So for get the cocaine that is in the RB Cola? and it's "okay" to drink just because it has no tasty animals or animal by products?
    yes, that is correct. lol

    One was nothing to to with the other actually. Red Bull is vegan. i don't know if the the cocaine laced Red Bull Cola is vegan as well. i wouldn't drink either. Just pointing out a fun fact as you were!
    05-26-09 01:39 PM
  13. Username00089's Avatar
    If that Cola really does have traces of cocaine then that really sucks for people who drink it and take drug tests for their jobs.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    05-26-09 01:44 PM
  14. Chrisy's Avatar
    If that Cola really does have traces of cocaine then that really sucks for people who drink it and take drug tests for their jobs.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    i also suggest avoid eating 'everything' bagels that contain poppy seeds! ha

    i really doubt that the traces contained in either would show up on a drug test. if so, there may be a lawsuit! hmmm
    05-26-09 01:47 PM
  15. Slingbox's Avatar
    hmm I'm going to stock up on the lethal mixture and sell on streets to Red Bull cola junkies so they can get their fix
    05-26-09 01:48 PM
  16. syb0rg's Avatar
    yes, that is correct. lol

    One was nothing to to with the other actually. Red Bull is vegan. i don't know if the the cocaine laced Red Bull Cola is vegan as well. i wouldn't drink either. Just pointing out a fun fact as you were!
    thats cool.
    05-26-09 01:57 PM
  17. SimeonAS89's Avatar
    Only gives me more of an excuse to drink it!
    05-26-09 02:50 PM
  18. 12MaNy's Avatar
    I bet my brother's "retired" (wink, wink) hallway mirror has a higher cocaine content than Red Bull Cola.
    05-26-09 03:06 PM
  19. pkcable's Avatar
    I bet my brother's "retired" (wink, wink) hallway mirror has a higher cocaine content than Red Bull Cola.
    I bet I have a few "retired" mirrors like that too. (Been "retired" for almost 7 years )
    05-26-09 03:13 PM
  20. xxxxpradaxxxx's Avatar
    I bet I have a few "retired" mirrors like that too. (Been "retired" for almost 7 years )
    Oh my...

    10 space char
    05-26-09 03:14 PM
  21. Username00089's Avatar
    i also suggest avoid eating 'everything' bagels that contain poppy seeds! ha

    i really doubt that the traces contained in either would show up on a drug test. if so, there may be a lawsuit! hmmm
    Okay Elaine Benes

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    05-26-09 03:19 PM
  22. 12MaNy's Avatar
    I bet I have a few "retired" mirrors like that too. (Been "retired" for almost 7 years )
    Yeah, my brother was a nut (I'm the good child). Good that your "retired" though. Lord only knows how crazy "Off Topic" would be if the mods were "active".
    05-26-09 03:31 PM
  23. Chrisy's Avatar
    Okay Elaine Benes

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    How did you know!? You stole my jesus fish! ha
    05-26-09 03:34 PM
  24. Username00089's Avatar
    How did you know!? You stole my jesus fish! ha
    Yeah that's right

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    05-26-09 04:12 PM
  25. Rapid Dr3am's Avatar
    I'll explain to my boss that I failed the drug test due to drinking too much red bull. With a small amount like they're claiming to be in there, you'd struggle to get anything anyway. I mean those who use cocaine with any regularity will know how much is required to alter their mental state. I'd love to see the line cut with the extract from a can.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    05-26-09 04:51 PM
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