PDEA says 5 energy drinks cocaine-free

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday announced that five other energy drink products have tested negative for cocaine.

Results show that Red Bull Supreme, Sting, Ion, Power Gold, Bacchus, and Lipovitan brands are safe for public consumption.

PDEA said all samples endorsed for testing by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) did not have traces of illegal drugs in them.  

Chemists from the agency’s laboratory service began their tests on initial Red Bull Supreme samples after reports came out that products bearing the same brand from Thailand were found to contain cocaine, a stimulant drug.

PDEA director general Dionisio Santiago said laboratory service personnel worked overtime during the weekend on specimens submitted by BFAD.

Aside from Sting, Ion, Power Gold, two variants of Bacchus and Lipovitan, chemists tested two more variants of Red Bull Supreme.

Concerned that cocaine contents in the product may harm consumers, BFAD asked PDEA to examine samples since it has the capability and the proper testing procedure to do it. – With Dennis Carcamo