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Information about Red Bull



Red Bull is the brand name of an energy drink that originated in Thailand and, in a version adapted to Austrian tastes, is now popular throughout the world. Sold by Red Bull GmbH as an energy drink to combat mental and physical fatigue, it contains, per 250 ml (8.3 U.S. fl. oz.) serving, about 27 g of sugar, 1000 mg of taurine, 600 mg of glucuronolactone, B-complex vitamins and 80 mg of caffeine. The caffeine in one serving is less than that found in an average cup of coffee (typically 100 mg/250 ml cup) or twice as much as found in a can of Coke (40 mg/330 ml can.) A sugar-free version has been available since the beginning of 2003 . Sugar-free Red Bull is sweetened with aspartame, as opposed to sucrose and glucose.

The drink is intended to taste like mixed berries, and is commonly used as mixer in alcoholic drinks such as vodka and is the base ingredient in the now famous Jägerbomb and Remytini. Almost 1 billion of the slim 250 ml cans were sold in 2000 in over 100 countries, 260 million of them in the UK. In 2006, more than 3 billion cans were sold in over 130 countries. 3,903 employees generated 2.6 billion euros in turnover.

Ingredients

Carbonated Water, sucrose, glucose, sodium citrate, taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, inositol, (niacinamide, calciumpantothenate, pyridoxine HCL, Vitamin B12, natural and artificial flavors, and colors)

In its natural form, taurine is derived from animal tissue, having been first isolated from bull (Bos taurus) bile; however, the taurine used in the Red Bull drink is produced synthetically. It is also the first energy drink to list glucuronolactone in its ingredient list.

The term case, with respect to Red Bull, might mean a four-pack, as this is the most common packaging, however the drink is also available in twelve-packs.

Health concerns

The sale of Red Bull is prohibited in some countries, usually due to its taurine content or its high level of caffeine. However, many countries which formerly banned Red Bull (and similar energy drinks) have revised their legislation to allow drinks containing taurine or higher amounts of caffeine, including Switzerland (1994), Finland(2005). As of 2007, Red Bull remains prohibited in Denmark, Norway, France, Uruguay and Iceland.

Red Bull is subject to numerous unproven claims of adverse health effects, most of which are urban legends. In 2001, the drink was investigated by the Swedish National Food Administration after being linked to the deaths of three consumers, and was completely cleared. It has been subject to a number of other health concerns regarding glucuronolactone, a of taurine. Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical compound produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver. It has received some notoriety due to urban legends that it was a Vietnam War-era drug manufactured by the American government. The rumor goes on to say that it was banned due to several brain tumor-related deaths. The rumor has since been proven false, as neither the cited British Medical Journal article nor the "banning of its consumption" ever occurred. Furthermore, no warnings appear on the Food and Drug Administration website regarding its potential to cause brain tumors or other maladies [1].

Origins

The original Red Bull drink was developed in Thailand by the company TC Pharmaceutical, where it was sold under the Thai name 'Krating Daeng'.[1] The recipe was based on Lipovitan, an earlier energy drink that had been introduced to Thailand from Japan. Krating Daeng sales soared across Asia in the 1970s and 1980s, especially among truck drivers, construction workers and farmers. Truck drivers used to drink it to stay awake during the long late night drive. The working class image was boosted by sponsorship of Thai boxing matches, where the logo of two red bulls charging each other was often on display.

The Thai product was transformed into a global brand by Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian entrepreneur. Mateschitz was international marketing director for Blendax, a German toothpaste company, when he visited Thailand in 1982 and discovered that Krating Daeng helped to cure his jet lag.[2] Between 1984 and 1987, Mateschitz worked with TC Pharmaceutical (a Blendax licensee) to adapt Krating Daeng for European audiences. At the same time Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya founded Red Bull GmbH; each investing $500,000 of savings and taking a 49% stake in the new company. They gave the remaining 2% to Chaleo's son Chalerm, but it was agreed that Mateschitz would run the company.[3] Red Bull GmbH launched the “Austrian” version of Red Bull in 1987, which is carbonated and not as sweet as the original Thai recipe. “Austrian” Red Bull entered its first foreign market (Hungary) in 1992, and the United States (via California) in 1997.[4]

It is the Austrian formula that has taken almost half of the US market for energy drinks, and up to 80% of the market in some other countries.

In addition to owning half of Red Bull GmbH, Chaleo and his son continue to market the original formula across Asia. In 2006, Forbes Magazine listed Chaleo as being the 292nd richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of over $2.5 billion[5] while Mateschitz was listed at number 317.[6]

The headquarters of Red Bull GmbH are located in Fuschl am See, Austria.

Other Red Bull products

The Red Bull company also distributes and markets a number of other drinks in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe including the Carpe Diem range of botanical water, and the Sabai Wine Spritzer (the latter in association with the Thai Siam Winery in Thailand)

The original Thai Krating Daeng is often available in many Asian grocery stores in New Zealand, Australia and Canada. It is usually cheaper than the domestic (mainstream Red Bull) variety. Government mandated nutrition fact labels are usually added by the importer.




Front of Krating Daeng can as available in Australia.

Back of Krating Daeng can as available in Australia.


See also

References

1. ^ Energy Drinks in the U.S. Beverage Marketing Corporation, 2006 [2]
2. ^ Selling Energy, Economist, May 9 2002 [3]
3. ^ Soda with a buzz, Forbes, 28 March 2005, [4]
4. ^ Red Bull GmbH Company History. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
5. ^ 'Billionaires, #292 Chaleo Yoovidhya, Forbes , 2006 [5]
6. ^ 'Billionaires, #317 Dietrich Mateschitz, Forbes , 2006 [6]

External links

A brand includes a name, logo, slogan, and/or design scheme associated with a product or service. Brand recognition and other reactions are created by the use of the product or service and through the influence of advertising, design, and media commentary.
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Energy drinks are beverages that are designed to give the consumer a shot of energy by using a combination of methylxanthines (including caffeine), B vitamins, and exotic herbal ingredients.
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Anthem
Phleng Chat
Royal anthem
Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami

Capital
(and largest city) Bangkok [1]

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Anthem
Land der Berge, Land am Strome   (German)
Land of Mountains, Land on the River
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Red Bull GmbH

Private
Founded 1984
Founder Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya
Headquarters Fuschl am See, Austria

Key people Dietrich Mateschitz
Industry Drink
Products Energy drinks
Revenue €2,6 billion (2006)
Operating income
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Energy drinks are beverages that are designed to give the consumer a shot of energy by using a combination of methylxanthines (including caffeine), B vitamins, and exotic herbal ingredients.
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Fatigue
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10 R 53.
ICD-9 780.7

DiseasesDB 30079
MedlinePlus 003088

MeSH D005221 The word fatigue
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A fluid ounce is a unit of volume in both the Imperial system of units and the U.S. customary units system.

Definition

The two types of ounces have slightly different definitions:

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Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid that is a major constituent of bile, and can be found in lower amounts in the tissues of many animals including humans.
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Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical compound produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver. It is an important structural component of nearly all connective tissues.[1] Glucuronolactone is also found in many plant gums.
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A vitamin is a nutrient that is an organic compound required in tiny amounts for essential metabolic reactions in a living organism.[1] The term vitamin
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Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a psychoactive stimulant in humans. The word comes from the French term for coffee, café.
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Coffee is a widely consumed beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called beans, of the coffee plant. Coffee was first consumed in the 9th century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia.
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Coca-Cola cola (a type of carbonated soft drink) sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO ) and is often referred to simply as Coke.
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Aspartame (or APM) (IPA: /ˈæ.spɚˌteɪm/ or /əˈspɑɹˌteɪm/
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Sucrose (common name: table sugar, also called saccharose) is a disaccharide (glucose + fructose) with the molecular formula C12H22O11. Its systematic name is α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fructofuranose.
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Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is an important carbohydrate in biology. The living cell uses it as a source of energy and metabolic intermediate.
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Vodka is one of the world's most popular distilled beverages. It is a clear liquid containing water, ethanol purified by distillation from a fermented substance such as potatoes, grain or molasses, and an insignificant amount of other substances: impurities and possibly flavorings.
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million (1,000,000), or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001.

In scientific notation, it is written as 106[1]
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Motto
"Dieu et mon droit" [2]   (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
"God Save the Queen" [3]
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1,000,000,000 (alternately known as one thousand million and one billion, see below) is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001.

In scientific notation, it is written as 109.
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1,000,000,000 (alternately known as one thousand million and one billion, see below) is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001.

In scientific notation, it is written as 109.
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Carbonated water, also known as sparkling water, fizzy water, soda water, club soda, or seltzer water, is plain water into which carbon dioxide gas has been dissolved. The process of dissolving carbon dioxide gas is called carbonation.
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Sucrose (common name: table sugar, also called saccharose) is a disaccharide (glucose + fructose) with the molecular formula C12H22O11. Its systematic name is α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fructofuranose.
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Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is an important carbohydrate in biology. The living cell uses it as a source of energy and metabolic intermediate.
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Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid with the chemical formula of Na3C6H5O7. Sodium citrate possesses a saline, mildly tart, flavor. For this reason, citrates of certain Alkaline and Alkaline Earth metals (e.g.
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Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid that is a major constituent of bile, and can be found in lower amounts in the tissues of many animals including humans.
..... Click the link for more information.
Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical compound produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver. It is an important structural component of nearly all connective tissues.[1] Glucuronolactone is also found in many plant gums.
..... Click the link for more information.
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Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a psychoactive stimulant in humans. The word comes from the French term for coffee, café.
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Inositol, (of which the most prominent naturally-occurring form is myo-inositol, cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-cyclohexanehexol), is a carbocyclic polyol that plays an important role as the structural basis for a number of secondary messengers in
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