FSDA chops wings of Red Bull in Meerut; Finds its sample 'unsafe'

Red Bull, an energy drink has been taken for a toss by Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA). FSDA found that the caffeine content in the drink is much higher than permissible limit and hence, declared the drink ‘unsafe’ for consumption. The disclosure came after the department run down several tests on the samples that it had collected six months ago from Best Price store (owned by Walmart) in Meerut.

However, after the outbreak of the news, the FSDA team acted quickly and detained the entire stock of Red Bull from the store. Revealing the exact figures, officials stated that they have seized 1,572 cans, including 972 cans of 250 ml capacity each and 600 cans of 350 ml capacity each, on Tuesday afternoon.

JP Singh, Chief Food Safety Officer commented further that the team had collected a sample of Red Bull from Best Price shop in Meerut six months ago and sent it to the Lucknow laboratory for checking, where it was found 'misbranded' and 'misleading'. The report was challenged by Red Bull and samples were further sent to the Kolkata laboratory - the referral lab. The report that arrived on Tuesday from Kolkata found that besides 'misbranding' and 'misleading', the caffeine levels in the drink were higher than the permissible limits and was thus declared as 'unsafe'.

The Food Safety and Standards (Food Products and Food Additive) Regulations, 2011, allows a limit of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine in carbonated beverages, but 'energy' drink manufacturers have a cap of 320 ppm. The lab test of Red Bull samples found 382 ppm caffeine in the drink.

Retaliating to the report, Red Bull, in an official statement to one of the dailies said that Red Bull energy drink is in compliance with all local food safety regulation standards. It is available in more than 166 countries and fully complies with regulations from the authorities in India and wherever it is on sale.