Red bull meets the Australian dietary guidelines

Dr Genevieve Cowie (DEPM PhD Candidate) has urged caution on the over reliance on research supported by energy-drink manufacturing companies, specifically Red Bull. In an article published in BMJ 2013 (347:f5345) Genevieve argues that the research into the negative consequences of mixing energy drinks and alcohol represents an inherent conflict of interest when sponsored by the companies themselves.

Of the four articles used as the basis for the Australian dietary guidelines, one was sponsored by Red Bull and another was a new review. 

Two of the three authors of the review received funding from Red Bull within the past three years, and one of these was a co-author on the other new (sponsored) paper.

This increase in the reliance on industry sponsored research is an alarming development for future public health policy development.