Red Bull cocaine update

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Red Bull cocaine latest! After tests in Germany detected traces of cocaine in Red Bull Simply Cola, the beverage was pulled from shelves in various German states. Austria followed suit, Taiwan seized thousands of cases of Red Bull drinks imported from Austria, and Jordan has reportedly banned Red Bull Simply Cola too. Now Hong Kong authorities claim they, too, found traces of cocaine in Red Bull products, a finding Red Bull’s manufacturers said in a statement is impossible because Red Bull Simply Cola isn’t sold there.

Forbes, meanwhile, writes: ‘Word about the German report is spreading -- and it could boost sales of Red Bull among its teen and young-adult target in the U.S., experts say.’ The article notes, very interestingly, that marketers sometimes capitalize -- Tsk! -- on urban rumors about their products. An example: ‘For decades, teens talked up green M&Ms as a supposed aphrodisiac.... For a limited time, the company sold green-only bags of M&Ms and there was a Web site where fans could share stories of ways ‘the green ones’ enhanced their love lives.’

-- Rosie Mestel