No cocaine in Red Bull, says PDEA

MANILA, Philippines – The first batch of Red Bull energy drink samples examined by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has tested negative for cocaine but PDEA chemists have yet to complete tests on other brands.

The complete results will be released on Monday.

PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago said yesterday based on the initial report from their laboratory service, samples of Red Bull Supreme
 submitted by a pharmaceutical and health shop were negative for cocaine.

“We are still testing the numerous samples that were submitted by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and we expect to release the results by Monday,” he said.

“While the initial results have already been released, PDEA joins its counterparts from the BFAD in warning the public to exercise extreme caution in consuming energy drinks pending the final results of the tests on these products.”

PDEA laboratory personnel are still working on samples of other energy drink brands, Santiago said.

Last Thursday, the BFAD asked the PDEA to examine Red Bull samples manufactured in Thailand after receiving reports that these contain cocaine.

Some supermarkets have decided to stop selling Red Bull to protect consumers in case the tests yield positive results.

BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez said the agency is coordinating with the importer of Red Bull to determine if its Thailand office gets the products from its main office in Austria.

“Our deputy director, Emil Polig, is getting in touch with the importer to know where Thailand gets the products,” she said. “I’m waiting for his report.”

The public should refrain from taking Red Bull energy drink pending an official notice from BFAD about its safety, she added. — Michael Punongbayan, Sheila Crisostomo