Two companies claim their product formulas meet national standards
Regarding this, a reporter from The Beijing News contacted the two companies mentioned, and their customer service representatives both stated that the product formulas comply with national standards. Public information shows that Anakafe is a central nervous system stimulant. Its scientific name is sodium benzoate caffeine, which is a strictly controlled psychotropic substance in China. As an excitatory psychotropic drug, Anakafe is used to treat central nervous system depression as well as respiratory and circulatory failure caused by anesthetics. A small number of people may develop tolerance after taking it.
A hotline staff member from Red Bull told The Beijing News reporter that the company’s products do not contain Anakafe, and all ingredients are added according to national standards. The reporter called the headquarters phone number published on the official Eastroc Super Drink website, and the staff who answered said that the product formula has been approved by the National Health Ministry. It is a mature product that has been on the market for many years and is widely accepted by consumers. Consumers can drink it with confidence.
According to their explanation: The Chinese Ministry of Health has only approved two types of vitamin functional drinks. One is the well-known Red Bull (originating from Thailand), and the second is Eastroc Super Drink (China). When the body experiences physiological fatigue, lacks energy substances, or has insufficient or impaired energy metabolism, drinking vitamin functional drinks can refresh the mind, replenish energy, quickly eliminate fatigue, boost spirits, and improve work efficiency and quality of life.
Experts suggest checking the label before drinking functional drinks
The reporter noted that in recent years, functional drinks have frequently been exposed for various issues. How should we correctly understand functional drinks?
Gu Zhongyi, a nutritionist at Beijing Friendship Hospital and deputy secretary-general of the Nutrition Education Branch of the Beijing Nutrition Society, told The Beijing News that first, functional drinks are not essential. For ordinary people, paying attention to a balanced diet means there’s no need to consume these. Second, it’s important to carefully check the labels of functional drinks—don’t have overly high expectations, and don’t confuse vitamin drinks, functional drinks, and sports drinks. (For example, Pulse is not a sports drink. According to GB15266-2009 "Sports Drinks," sports drinks should have soluble solids between 3.0-8.0%, sodium 50-120mg/L, potassium 50-250mg/L, ascorbic acid no more than 120mg/L, thiamine and its derivatives at 3-5mg/L, riboflavin and its derivatives at 2-4mg/L. These are the criteria for drinks suitable for consumption during exercise.)
“If you’re not engaging in intense exercise and the duration isn’t long, there’s actually no need to drink sports drinks. Plain water and fruit will suffice. Generally, people with light physical jobs should drink more than 1.6L of water per day,” said Gu Zhongyi.