4 June 2009 - Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has just released its latest assessment on consumer exposure to small traces of cocaine in Red Bull's Simply Cola.
The BfR reminds us that cocaine is a natural constituent of the coca leaf. Coca leaf extracts are an ingredient in the soft drink. Cocaine can affect in particular the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system and has the potential to make the user mentally dependent.
The Land Institute for Labour and Health of the Land North Rhine-Westphalia had detected 0.4 microgram cocaine per litre in Red Bull Simply Cola. According to information in the scientific literature, the lowest dose that may lead to an adverse effect is a daily intake of 4.800 microgram cocaine per person. This corresponds to the amount of cocaine contained in 12.000 litres of the soft beverage.
Assuming a high daily consumption of 1.7 litres, the mar-gin of exposure between the consumed amount of cocaine and the amount upwards of which adverse effects may occur, is a factor of approximately 7.000. For mean consumption of 0.6 litres, the margin of exposure is a factor of 20.000.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment therefore concludes that no health risk is to be expected from consumption of this product because of its low cocaine content.
