WHAT'S IN RED BULL?
RED BULL ENERGY DRINK
Information updated June 2024
RED BULL INGREDIENTS: So, let’s take a look at what’s in a Red Bull >> keep in mind that ingredients are always listed in descending order of amount; there is the most amount of the ingredient listed first and the least amount of the ingredient listed last.
RED BULL IS PRIMARILY CARBONATED WATER + SWEETENERS AND IS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET: (Source for Red Bull ingredients: Red Bull can on Walmart site 6/24; Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 6/24) Other ingredients in Red Bull include Added Commercial Fortification + Caffeine + Artificial Flavors + Natural Flavors + Coloring.
RED BULL IS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS BECAUSE IT CONTAINS ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS AND COLORS WHICH WHOLE FOODS CITES AS “UNACCEPTABLE IN FOOD.” (Source for banned ingredients: Whole Foods Web site 6/24)
WHY DOES RED BULL HAVE ADDED COLORS? It’s interesting that Red Bull has Added Colors because it is always housed in an opaque can and the vast majority of Red Bull is consumed directly from the can >> most consumers don’t really see the color of the beverage.
RED BULL HAS 37 GRAMS OF ADDED SUGAR IN ONE 12oz. CAN: After Carbonated Water, Sugar + Glucose are the #2 and #3 ingredients in Red Bull.
According to The American Heart Association 2024, “Men should eat less than 36 grams of added sugars daily.”
SUGAR FREE RED BULL IS BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS FOR CONTAINING THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS ASPARTAME AND ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (a.k.a. Ace-K). Dr. Joseph Mercola says, “Consuming artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium can impair your appetite regulation and cause weight gain.” (Source: Dr. Mercola Web site 6/24)
Dr. Josh Axe cites Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium as two of the Top 5 Worst Artificial Sweeteners. (Source: Dr. Axe Web site 6/24)
Seen below, ALSO BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS, RED BULL THE YELLOW EDITION TROPICAL FLAVORED DRINK COSTS $2.88 AT WALMART AND HAS 38 GRAMS OF ADDED SUGAR IN ONE 12OZ. CAN. (Source for pricing and ingredients: Walmart Web site 6/24) Similar to its parent Red Bull, Red Bull The Yellow Edition Tropical is primarily Carbonated Water + Sweeteners.
This Red Bull product contains Not In Kitchen™ ingredients such as Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Artificial Flavors, Natural Flavors, Colors, and the FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative, Citric Acid.
RED BULL MOVED INTO THE ‘ENERGY DRINK FOR WORK’ SPACE. Whereas the benefit of added energy was, for the majority, historically anchored in sports or significant physical performance, the target for added energy was expanded by Red Bull to include white collar, suit-wearing city workers.
On a global scale, Red Bull is positioned around superior performance for an upscale audience:
Discover food + beverages whose ingredients are Closest To Homemade in 275+ categories. Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list.
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