German states ban cocaine-laced Red Bull Tuesday 26 May at 10:00 : May 26 (GMM) The leading energy drink Red Bull's new cola variety has been ordered off the shelves in six German states
Red Bull, the owner of two formula one teams, launched Red Bull Simply Cola last year, and currently advertises the product on the large rear wing endplates of both the Red Bull RB5 and Toro Rosso STR4 cars
But, for fear of narcotics law violations, it has been banned in Germany after tests by authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia showed the drink contains cocaine
Red Bull responded by saying the product is "harmless", insisting the flavouring method using coca leaf extracts is widespread. The Austrian company also commissioned its own test and said no cocaine was found
The energy drink Red Bull is also banned in Norway, Denmark and Uruguay |