Red Bull energy drink under investigation after deaths

July 13 – The phenomenally successful energy drink Red Bull is being investigated by Sweden’s National Food Authority after it was reported that at least three people have died after consuming it.

A public warning advising people not to take Red Bull mixed with alcohol nor to drink it after exercise has been issued by Sweden’s National Food Authority (NFA) according to a report in the London Times on July 12^th.

The Times article said that two of the victims died after mixing Red Bull with vodka and the third after drinking several cans after a hard gym session.

Anders Glynn from the NFA’s toxicology department and head of the investigation was reported as saying that it would focus on two of the ingredients in Red Bull – taurine and caffeine, and the effects of combining the two ingredients with alcohol. He said in the article: "What we have is the suggestion that three people have died after drinking the substance, although there is no hard scientific evidence available on this as yet".

A spokeswoman for Red Bull was reported as saying that the drink was safe and the company had a 14 year record of safe products. World-wide Red Bull has sales of more than $1 billion.