Cocaine in energy drink a ‘rumour’

Although authorities in six German states were ordered to stop the sales of Red Bull Cola energy drinks after alleged traces of cocaine were found in it this week, Red Bull officials have stated that it is a rumour.
Meanwhile, officials at Stassens Group Sri Lanka, the importers of Red Bull to the island stated that the consumers have no reason to worry about the reports explaining that the Red Bull Company denied any trace of cocaine prevalent in the drink. Stassens imports Red Bull from Austria. The recall in Germany came after a sample analysis conducted in North-Rhine Westphalia found 0.4 micrograms of the banned substance in 1 litre of the drink. However the Austria based energy drinks company said coca leaf extracts which is an ingredient in the drink, were used worldwide as a natural flavouring, and that its own tests had found no traces of cocaine.
There are 10 cocaine alkaloids prevalent in coca and the illegal cocaine alkaloid which represents 0.8% of the chemical make up of the plant is chemically removed before the plant is processed under international anti-narcotics agency laws.
(NN)