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After a finding by the Food Safety Agency in Germany have found that Red Bull contains 0.4 micrograms of cocaine per litre, Red Bull has been banned from 6 German states.

It is reminiscent of how Coca Cola was also found to contain cocaine at the turn of the 20th Century.
While it is considered to be within safety tolerances, the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection and Federal Institute for Risk Assessment sought to extend the ban on Red Bull.

Red Bull made a public statement that the levels of cocaine were attributed to the “use of a decocainised coca leaf extract in the product.”
Well the stimulant must come from somewhere apart from the caffeine.

“Decocainised coca leaf extracts are used as flavouring in foodstuffs around the world and are considered to be safe (eg FDA Gras Status, Council of Europe). Red Bull Cola and other foodstuff containing such extracts may therefore be sold legally.”

At this stage Coca Cola has not made any statements whether they use a decocainised coca leaf extract in their products.

Even though the cocaine may be in miniscule quantities, it may be interesting to see whether this level of cocaine is what give Red Bull it’s wings:))