Tag Archives: Germany

Cocaine found in Red Bull drinks

Posted on by
Reply

Cases of Red Bull are being pulled from store shelves by officials in several countries due to the detection of cocaine in the products.

Trace amounts of the drug (0.4 micrograms per liter) were detected in Red Bull Cola by German authorities two weeks ago.

A few days later, Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment said that the cocaine level was too low to pose a health risk. However, bans on the drink were initiated in several German states due to concerns that their sale may violate narcotics laws.

When the Department of Health in Taiwan heard about the German’s discovery, they decided to test Red Bull Energy Drink—another product by the same manufacturer. They, too, found 0.4 micrograms of cocaine for each liter tested.

A statement made by the folks at Red Bull two days ago said,

"It would have been absolutely impossible for Asian (or any other) authorities to have found traces of cocaine in Red Bull Energy Drink. We believe that Asian authorities mistakenly applied concerns about Red Bull Simply Cola to Red Bull Energy Drink, a completely different product with an entirely different formula. Nevertheless, we had Red Bull Energy Drink product samples from Asia analyzed by an independent and accredited institute and confirmed that Red Bull Energy Drink does not contain any cocaine."

The same day, officials at the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong said a laboratory analysis found 0.1 and 0.3 micrograms of the illegal drug per liter in samples of Red Bull Sugar-free, as well as Red Bull Cola and Red Bull Energy Drink.

Are they lying, too, Red Bull?

The remainder of the statement by Red Bull said,

"A German authority had raised concerns regarding the use of de-cocainized coca leaf extract in Red Bull Simply Cola. …

"De-cocainized coca leaf extracts are used as flavoring in food products around the world and are considered to be safe. Indeed, in 21 C.FR. 182.20, the Food and Drug Administration regulations provide that it is acceptable and safe to use de-cocainized coca in food products in the United States."

Each country—and each consumer for that matter—is entitled to determine the level of risk that is acceptable to them. Food producers should respect that, and provide the information needed to make those determinations.

They should also provide sufficient data when calling anyone a liar. People who are already pulling products likely need more data than results of an undisclosed number of samples tested by a single, unnamed institute. Less arrogance is definitely in order.
 

Jennifer Aniston eats dog biscuit – Salmonella risk?

Posted on by
Reply

Dlisted reports that Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson were on Germany’s Wetten Dass… to promote that movie about a dead dog when they had to eat a doggy biscuit after losing a bet.

People magazine says that the bet was that a woman claimed she could correctly identity her team of Husky dogs just from listening to them drink soup. Jennifer and Owen and the host all indulged. People magazine even asked readers, “Have you ever tried your pet’s food?”

This is a bad idea. Salmonella has been routinely found in dried dog food and doggy treats. People worried about barfing should wash their hands after handling either – dog food or treats, Jennifer or Owen.
 

Soccer star Dejagah hospitalized with hepatitis A

Posted on by
Reply

VfL Wolfsburg’s German Under-21 international Ashkan Dejagah is facing a "very long time" on the sidelines after being admitted to a specialist hospital in Hamburg to undergo treatment for hepatitis A.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said,

"It is very unfortunate and he will be sidelined for a very long time. We wish him the swiftest of recoveries."

No word on how the virus was contracted – food, water or otherwise.
 

Hallucinogenic chocolates doom Berlin sweet shop

Posted on by
Reply

In a scene seemingly straight out of the TV show, Weeds, Reuters reports that police closed down a Berlin sweet shop after discovering the owner was selling chocolates and lollipops laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms and marijuana.

The 23-year old owner of the shop in the trendy east Berlin district of Prenzlauer Berg, an area known for its vibrant night life, was taken into custody on suspicion of drug-dealing.

"In the shop we found 120 pieces of magic mushroom chocolate and countless cannabis lollipops," said police, who confiscated around 70 sachets containing various drugs, about 20 marijuana joints, a range of pills and some jars of drug-laced honey.
 

Blame consumers — German style

Posted on by
Reply

Apparently it’s International Green Week in Berlin, described as an Exhibition for the Food Industry, Agriculture and Horticulture, from Jan. 18 — 27 (that seems longer than a week).

Food News reports that the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is presenting its work so consumers can find out more about the risks lurking in their kitchens.

The story says,

around 200,000 food infections are reported every year in Germany. Experts believe that the actual number is far higher since by no means everyone who is affected goes to see a doctor. Most of the infections with Salmonella, Campylobacter or other germs are not contracted in canteens or restaurants but in the home.

BfR President Professor Dr. Andreas Hensel said,

"Many consumers have never learned how to store and cook food properly in the home. By following simple rules it is possible to avoid unpleasant food infections."

Like Bill Marler wrote about the Chinese this morning, maybe the Germans are on to something as well.

I’ll stick with a farm-to-fork approach to food safety. There are outbreaks everywhere. Stop blaming consumers.

Germans concerned about beer price increases

Posted on by
1

$100-a-barrel oil means more farm acreage to biofuels and a bunch of pissed-off Germans.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the German beer industry is bracing for a 10 percent to 15 percent price increase early next year and as much as 40 percent over the next five years because of generous European Union subsidies to farmers who grow crops used in the production of biofuels.

Many farmers have switched from growing barley — used to make malt, the main ingredient in beer — to crops such as rapeseed and corn. This has driven up the cost of barley to more than $410 from $190 a ton last year.

Stefan Haase, 44, an advertising executive in Berlin, said,

"Of course I’m not happy about a price increase, but it won’t stop me from drinking my daily after-work beer. Or two. But there are many unemployed in Germany, and for them the evening beer in the neighborhood pub is their only social contact. A price increase would be traumatic for these people."

Beer drinking may be deeply ingrained in German culture, but the biofuel juggernaut appears to be unstoppable. Of Germany’s 30 million acres of agricultural land, 5 million are now dedicated to growing biofuel crops. Barley production fell 5.5 percent in 2007.

Unlike the U.S., where the market is dominated by a handful of large national brewers, Germany has more than 5,000 beers produced by 1,284 brewers.

The variety reflects pronounced regional preferences in taste. Beer drinkers in northern Germany, for example, like a sharper, bitter beer, while in the south the preference is for a milder brew.