News in brief

Red Bull reacts to German opinion on energy shots

09-Feb-2010 - Energy shots are safe if used according to instructions, says Red Bull, as the German risk assessor BfR calls for a ban on energy shots because consumers could not be trusted to drink ‘safe’ amounts.

Study links energy drinks to heart attack risk

09-Feb-2010 - Energy drink consumption has been linked to heart attack risk in a newly published study, but Red Bull claims the research is old and the results would be no different for a cup of coffee.

Wind up or down? 2009 welcomes relaxation drinks

22-Dec-2009 - Consumers in 2009 were greeted with a swathe of new drinks to help them enjoy a night in, as much as a night out, according to Mintel figures.

Study says alcoholic energy drinks pose 'serious risks'

14-Dec-2009 - A new study in Behavioral Neuroscience has warned that there are “serious risks” associated with mixing caffeine and alcohol.

Canadians warned off Chaotic Beverages over possible health risks

06-Nov-2009 - Health Canada has told consumers not to drink four “unauthorised” drinks made by Chaotic Beverages on fears they contain ingredients that could pose a health hazard to children.

Red Bull: EFSA taurine rejection won’t affect energy claims

13-Oct-2009 - Global energy drinks leader, Red Bull, says the recent rejection of taurine-based energy health claims by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) won’t have any bearing on its own claim-making.

Target women with energy drinks, says Mintel

30-Sep-2009 - UK consumers view energy drinks as value for money rather than a luxury, with sales for the products expected to soar over the next five years, according to the latest statistics from Mintel.

Australian state ponders energy drinks ban

03-Sep-2009 - Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is considering a ban on high caffeine energy drinks in the Red Bull-led sector, after its Primary Industries minister, Ian McDonald, highlighted products loaded with up to 15 times recommended caffeine limits.

Is taurine slipping out of energy drinks?

31-Aug-2009 - Manufacturers of energy drinks are less frequently including the ingredient taurine in their new product launches, according to the latest post-market statistics.

Red Bull hit with record fine for breaching packing regulations

30-Jul-2009 - Red Bull UK has been ordered to pay a record £271,800 for flouting regulations on the recovery and recycling of packaging waste over a period of eight years.

One-shot energy drinks show bullish growth

02-Jul-2009 - Beverage makers are clamoring for market share in the nascent one-shot energy drinks market that is delivering uber-healthy premiums and attracting older consumers to the category, according to a US and UK-oriented report.

Fake Red Bull under investigation

17-Jun-2009 -   The US International Trade Commission (USITC) is investigating several companies that may be responsible for importing and distributing energy drinks into the US that breach trademarks and copyright of market leader, Red Bull.

Red Bull confirms energy drink is cocaine-free

09-Jun-2009 - Under-fire Red Bull has moved to clear up some of the confusion surrounding traces of cocaine being found by German authorities in one of its brands.

Red Bull wings clipped in Jordan over cocaine use

01-Jun-2009 - Austria’s health department has confirmed that Red Bull Cola contains traces of cocaine but at levels that do not pose a public health risk but Jordan has joined a major German retailer and banned the drink.