George S. May Business Blog

Why is there cocaine in my Red Bull?

Germany is reportedly considering a ban across the nation on the energy drink Red Bull Cola after finding traces of cocaine within. This comes as a follow up to the order from authorities in the states of Hesse and North-Rhine Westphalia who have already halted retailers from selling the beverage.

‘The institute examined Red Bull Cola in an elaborate chemical process and found traces of cocaine,’ said Bernhard Kuehnle, head of the food safety department at the federal ministry for consumer protection.

Giant German retail group Rewe had already issued orders to remove Red Bull Cola from its shops and a spokesman for the North-Rhine Westphalia consumer ministry predicted that most German States will do the same.

Now, it must be said that the levels of cocaine found within the energy drink do not pose any health threat whatsoever. Basically, what was found within Red Bull Cola was an extract of a de-cocainized coca leaf. Nonetheless, even traces of the extract automatically classified the beverage not as a foodstuff, but rather a narcotic and needs a special license to be sold.

Of course, Red Bull has protested the accusations, echoing the above statement that the extract is used strictly for flavoring.

My question is: did Red Bull just think they wouldn’t get caught? Was the de-cocainized extract of the coca leaf that important for the flavor of Red Bull Cola that they decided it would be beneficial for them to knowingly break the law? They had to think that due to the size and reach of their company and its products eventually Red Bull Cola would be examined under a microscope, right? So why risk it?

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