Are there bull testicles in red bull

And here's the nonscience bit: despite what you may have heard or read elsewhere, there is slightly less caffeine in a can of Red Bull in a cup of filter coffee. The drink is non-addictive and the "bull's testicles" rumour came about because taurine was first detected, 40 years ago, in cattle - hence the name taurus - bull. You will not test positive in a drugs test after drinking Red Bull - unless the testers are looking for caffeine use - and no, it's not going to be banned by the EU.

But with so many similar "energy" drinks on the market, how it is Red Bull which has gained so much popularity - to the point where the owner of last year's Pub of the Year, Michael Wright of The Bloody Stream in Howth, is quoted as saying that he now sells more Red Bull than Coca Cola? Barry Connolly of Richmond Marketing, the company which imports Red Bull into Ireland, says that when the drink first became available in Ireland three years ago, he had a very specific market in mind: "We selected four or five fashionable nightclubs such as The POD and The Kitchen and worked with them for display space - while Irish people who had been skiing in Austria or clubbing in Ibiza would have been aware of the drink, no one else was and the clubs suited because we wanted Red Bull to be a fashion-led drink.

And why all the scare stories? It states quite clearly on the can or bottle that it is a stimulant and is not suitable for use by children.

However, Red Bull is also a style choice and is very popular as such. But if people drink eight vodka and Red Bulls and then exhibit drunken behaviour, it's due to the vodka. Whether you choose to believe Red Bull's claims that it "revitalises" physically and mentally is very much up to you as a discerning customer, but the message seems to be that, while it won't send you raving through the streets, it is not a soft drink and is not promoted as such - and should not be knocked back unthinking, not least because of its caffeine content.

Barry Connolly's words - "This is an adult drink - and should be used as such". In honour of Irish Times Food Month, a query into all manner of musical victuals. See a sample. Exclusive competitions and restaurant offers, plus reviews, the latest food and drink news, recipes and lots more. Please update your payment details to keep enjoying your Irish Times subscription. Nectar of the Nineties Tue, Feb 2, , TV, Radio, Web.

Subscriber Only. Putting the Rabbit in the Hat by Brian Cox: ticking the boxes. What should any one of us be expected to do to avert climate catastrophe? Music Quiz. The Books Podcast. Culture Videos. Sign up. It has various important functions in the body. The main dietary sources of taurine are meat, fish, dairy products and it is also added to energy drinks here , here , here.

Red Bull confirmed that the taurine in Red Bull is produced synthetically by pharmaceutical companies. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here. By Reuters Staff 4 Min Read. Reuters Fact Check.