UBC Wiki - User contributions [en]

Course:FNH200/Assignments/2026/RedBull EnergyDrink

2026-07-19T23:59:52Z

TylerTran:

Introduction

This page is for '''GROUP 25''' from FNH 200 942 (Summer T2 2026). Our team members are as follows:

* Joshua Hart
* Ahaana Mitra
* Julian Renzetti
* Leah Song
* Tyler Tran

== Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) ==
As the rise of energy drinks dominates the beverage market amongst young adults, it's no surprise that energy drink companies have closely followed health and wellness trends to compete in the broader market [Cording, 2026]. In relation to recent content covered in FNH 200, reduced or sugar-free options have increased significantly, giving us a perfect opportunity to explore for this assignment.

Red Bull launched their original energy drink in 1987, but it wasn't until 2003 that their first sugar-free alternative was released under the variant name, "Sugarfree" [Taylor, 2013]. This assignment aims to compare both the original and sugar-free options along with their nutritional facts, ingredients, and overall differences in product make-up that make each an appealing choice for select consumers.

== Post pictures (Mandatory) ==
Attached below are images of the two products with the ingredient list and supplemented food facts. Click each image to take a closer look.

==== Red Bull Original ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Original.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original
File:Red_Bull_Original_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Original_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

==== Red Bull Sugarfree ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

== Ingredient lists (4 points)==

==== Type out the lists of ingredients: ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Original
!Sugarfree
|-
|Carbonated water, '''sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose)''', citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|Carbonated water, citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, '''sucralose''', '''xanthan gum''', niacinamide, '''acesulfame-potassium''', pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|}
(Bolded ingredients specify its uniqueness to its alternative)

==== Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used, if there is any. ====
Insert here. Ahaana

'''Explain the roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used in terms of the functional properties they contribute to the product.'''

Insert here. Ahaana

'''Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences.'''

The primary difference between original and sugar-free Red Bull lies in how food scientists replace both the sweetness and physical texture of real sugar. In the original version, energy is derived from a heavy blend of sugar and glucose-fructose, which naturally thickens the liquid. When creating the sugar-free alternative, scientists swap these out for sucralose and acesulfame-potassium. These two zero-calorie artificial sweeteners are commonly blended together in commercial beverages because they mask each other's individual bitter or metallic aftertastes. Tricking our taste receptors into perceiving a classic and sucrose-like flavour without the accompanying calories (Jang et al., 2021).

However, removing real sugar also removes physical weight, which can leave a diet drink feeling thin and watery to consumers. To replicate the original "mouthfeel," scientists add xanthan gum; a natural stabilizer and thickener. Xanthan gum alters the liquid's flow behaviour and resting thickness to mimic the density of the original version. This ensures the drink still feels premium on the tongue instead of thin and watery. Beyond this texture-and-sweetener swap, the foundational energy formula remains the same, relying on the mixture of caffeine, taurine, and metabolism-supporting B vitamins.

== Labels (1 points)==

==== Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels. ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Labelling Type
!Description
|-
|Bilingual labelling
|Present everywhere on both cans
|-
|Common name of the food
|Included on front of the cans - "Energy drink"
|-
|Country of Origin
|Has origin country of parent company and importer on the back of can - Red Bull GmbH in Austria, importer in Toronto
|-
|Date marking
|Best before date is listed on the bottom of the can (not pictured). This is explained on the back of the can, as can be seen in the pictures.
|-
|Storage instructions
|None
|-
|Identity and Principal Place of Business
|Parent company and importer listed on the back of the can along with their place of business
|-
|Irradiated foods
|Not applicable
|-
|Legibility and location
|All text is easily legible and mandatory text is where a consumer would expect it to be (e.g. ingredients, nutritional facts)
|-
|List of ingredients
|List of ingredients is present and is comprehensive. Very specific compounds are mentioned by name and there are minimal broad terms used
|-
|Nutrition Facts
|Present on the back of the can in the standard format that is expected. Note that this table is actually titled "Supplemented food facts", since energy drinks are technically classified as health supplements.
|-
|Net Quantity
|250 ml for both cans
|-
|Sweeteners
|Sugar free sweeteners: Sucralose and Acesulfame-potassium Original sweeteners: sugar, glucose-fructose
|-
|Other mandatory information
|Mandatory high caffeine warning included on both cans under ingredient list
|}

==== Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04. ====
Overall the information on both cans appears to comply with all the regulatory requirements in lesson 4. There are a few interesting things to note on the label:

* The main logo (Red Bull - Energy Drink) doesn't have bilingual text. This is likely ok because the smaller product description below has the product name in both languages.
* The can has origin country of parent company and importer, but not country of origin of the product. Further research revealed that energy drinks are considered health supplements and are exempt from country of origin labelling.
* Storage instructions are missing - this is likely because it will not expire no matter how it is stored, so these are unecessary.
* We noted the high caffeine warning which is a legal requirement, the specific amount of caffeine can be found under the nutrition facts label.

== Personal Choice (5 points)==
Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion.

==References==
Please use the Wikipedia reference style. Provide a citation for every sentence, statement, thought, or bit of data not your own, giving the author, year, AND page. '''Note:''' Before writing your wiki article on the UBC Wiki, it may be helpful to review the tips in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles Wikipedia: Writing better articles].<ref>En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Writing better articles. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].</ref>

WRITE LINKS HERE FOR NOW, CITE LATER:

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscording/2026/05/19/the-new-energy-drink-boom-is-about-more-than-caffeine/
* https://www.redbull.com/int-en/energydrink/company-profile
* https://www.commerce.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/doc/Taylor%20Testimony.pdf
* https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03779

CITATION TAGS:<references/>

{{Projectbox FNH200}}
[[Category:Food_Science]]

Course:FNH200/Assignments/2026/RedBull EnergyDrink

2026-07-19T18:40:06Z

TylerTran: /* Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) */

Introduction

This page is for '''GROUP 25''' from FNH 200 942 (Summer T2 2026). Our team members are as follows:

* Joshua Hart
* Ahaana Mitra
* Julian Renzetti
* Leah Song
* Tyler Tran

== Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) ==
As the rise of energy drinks dominates the beverage market amongst young adults, it's no surprise that energy drink companies have closely followed health and wellness trends to compete in the broader market [Cording, 2026]. In relation to recent content covered in FNH 200, reduced or sugar-free options have increased significantly, giving us a perfect opportunity to explore for this assignment.

Red Bull launched their original energy drink in 1987, but it wasn't until 2003 that their first sugar-free alternative was released under the variant name, "Sugarfree" [Taylor, 2013]. This assignment aims to compare both the original and sugar-free options along with their nutritional facts, ingredients, and overall differences in product make-up that make each an appealing choice for select consumers.

== Post pictures (Mandatory) ==
Attached below are images of the two products with the ingredient list and supplemented food facts. Click each image to take a closer look.

==== Red Bull Original ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Original.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original
File:Red_Bull_Original_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Original_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

==== Red Bull Sugarfree ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

== Ingredient lists (4 points)==

==== Type out the lists of ingredients: ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Original
!Sugarfree
|-
|Carbonated water, '''sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose)''', citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|Carbonated water, citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, '''sucralose''', '''xanthan gum''', niacinamide, '''acesulfame-potassium''', pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|}
(Bolded ingredients specify its uniqueness to its alternative)

==== Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used, if there is any. ====
Insert here. Ahaana

'''Explain the roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used in terms of the functional properties they contribute to the product.'''

Insert here. Ahaana

'''Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences.'''

The primary difference between original and sugar-free Red Bull lies in how food scientists replace both the sweetness and physical texture of real sugar. In the original version, energy is derived from a heavy blend of '''sugar and glucose-fructose''', which naturally thickens the liquid. When creating the sugar-free alternative, scientists swap these out for '''sucralose and acesulfame-potassium'''. These two zero-calorie artificial sweeteners are frequently blended together in commercial beverages because they mask each other's individual bitter or metallic aftertastes. Tricking our taste receptors into perceiving a classic and sucrose-like flavour without the accompanying calories (Jang et al., 2021).

However, removing real sugar also removes physical weight, which can leave a diet drink feeling thin and watery to consumers. To replicate the original "mouthfeel," scientists add '''xanthan gum;''' a natural stabilizer and thickener. Xanthan gum alters the liquid's flow behaviour and resting thickness to mimic the density of the original version. This ensures the drink still feels premium on the tongue instead of thin and watery. Beyond this texture-and-sweetener swap, the foundational energy formula remains the same, relying on the mixture of caffeine, taurine, and metabolism-supporting B vitamins.

== Labels (1 points)==

==== Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels. ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Labelling Type
!Description
|-
|Bilingual labelling
|Present everywhere on both cans
|-
|Common name of the food
|Included on front of the cans - "Energy drink"
|-
|Country of Origin
|Has origin country of parent company and importer on the back of can - Red Bull GmbH in Austria, importer in Toronto
|-
|Date marking
|Best before date is listed on the bottom of the can (not pictured). This is explained on the back of the can, as can be seen in the pictures.
|-
|Storage instructions
|None
|-
|Identity and Principal Place of Business
|Parent company and importer listed on the back of the can along with their place of business
|-
|Irradiated foods
|Not applicable
|-
|Legibility and location
|All text is easily legible and mandatory text is where a consumer would expect it to be (e.g. ingredients, nutritional facts)
|-
|List of ingredients
|List of ingredients is present and is comprehensive. Very specific compounds are mentioned by name and there are minimal broad terms used
|-
|Nutrition Facts
|Present on the back of the can in the standard format that is expected. Note that this table is actually titled "Supplemented food facts", since energy drinks are technically classified as health supplements.
|-
|Net Quantity
|250 ml for both cans
|-
|Sweeteners
|Sugar free sweeteners: Sucralose and Acesulfame-potassium Original sweeteners: sugar, glucose-fructose
|-
|Other mandatory information
|Mandatory high caffeine warning included on both cans under ingredient list
|}

==== Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04. ====
Overall the information on both cans appears to comply with all the regulatory requirements in lesson 4. There are a few interesting things to note on the label:

* The main logo (Red Bull - Energy Drink) doesn't have bilingual text. This is likely ok because the smaller product description below has the product name in both languages.
* The can has origin country of parent company and importer, but not country of origin of the product. Further research revealed that energy drinks are considered health supplements and are exempt from country of origin labelling.
* Storage instructions are missing - this is likely because it will not expire no matter how it is stored, so these are unecessary.
* We noted the high caffeine warning which is a legal requirement, the specific amount of caffeine can be found under the nutrition facts label.

== Personal Choice (5 points)==
Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion.

==References==
Please use the Wikipedia reference style. Provide a citation for every sentence, statement, thought, or bit of data not your own, giving the author, year, AND page. '''Note:''' Before writing your wiki article on the UBC Wiki, it may be helpful to review the tips in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles Wikipedia: Writing better articles].<ref>En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Writing better articles. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].</ref>

WRITE LINKS HERE FOR NOW, CITE LATER:

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscording/2026/05/19/the-new-energy-drink-boom-is-about-more-than-caffeine/
* https://www.redbull.com/int-en/energydrink/company-profile
* https://www.commerce.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/doc/Taylor%20Testimony.pdf
* https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03779

CITATION TAGS:<references/>

{{Projectbox FNH200}}
[[Category:Food_Science]]

Course:FNH200/Assignments/2026/RedBull EnergyDrink

2026-07-19T18:38:55Z

TylerTran: /* Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) */

Introduction

This page is for '''GROUP 25''' from FNH 200 942 (Summer T2 2026). Our team members are as follows:

* Joshua Hart
* Ahaana Mitra
* Julian Renzetti
* Leah Song
* Tyler Tran

== Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) ==
As the rise of energy drinks dominates the beverage market amongst young adults, it's no surprise that energy drink companies have closely followed health and wellness trends to compete in the broader market [Cording, 2026]. In relation to recent content covered in FNH 200, reduced or sugar-free options have increased significantly, giving us a perfect opportunity to explore for this assignment.

Red Bull launched their original energy drink in 1987, but it wasn't until 2003 that their first sugar-free alternative was released under the variant name, "Sugarfree" [Taylor, 2013]. This assignment aims to compare both the original and sugar-free options along with their nutritional facts, ingredients, and overall differences in product make-up that make each an appealing choice for select consumers.

== Post pictures (Mandatory) ==
Attached below are images of the two products with the ingredient list and supplemented food facts. Click each image to take a closer look.

==== Red Bull Original ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Original.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original
File:Red_Bull_Original_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Original_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

==== Red Bull Sugarfree ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

== Ingredient lists (4 points)==

==== Type out the lists of ingredients: ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Original
!Sugarfree
|-
|Carbonated water, '''sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose)''', citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|Carbonated water, citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, '''sucralose''', '''xanthan gum''', niacinamide, '''acesulfame-potassium''', pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|}
(Bolded ingredients specify its uniqueness to its alternative)

==== Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used, if there is any. ====
Insert here. Ahaana

'''Explain the roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used in terms of the functional properties they contribute to the product.'''

Insert here. Ahaana

'''Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences.'''

The primary difference between original and sugar-free Red Bull lies in how food scientists replace both the sweetness and physical texture of real sugar. In the original version, energy is derived from a heavy blend of '''sugar and glucose-fructose''', which naturally thickens the liquid. When creating the sugar-free alternative, scientists swap these out for '''sucralose and acesulfame-potassium'''. These two zero-calorie artificial sweeteners are frequently blended together in commercial beverages because they mask each other's individual bitter or metallic aftertastes. Tricking our taste receptors into perceiving a classic and sucrose-like flavour without the accompanying calories (Jang et al., 2021).

However, removing real sugar also removes physical weight, which can leave a diet drink feeling thin and watery to consumers. To replicate the original "mouthfeel," scientists add '''xanthan gum;''' a natural stabilizer and thickener. Xanthan gum alters the liquid's flow behaviour and resting thickness to mimic the density of the original version. This ensures the drink still feels premium on the tongue instead of thin and watery, while remaining completely easy to drink. Beyond this texture-and-sweetener swap, the foundational energy formula remains the same, relying on the mixture of caffeine, taurine, and metabolism-supporting B vitamins.

== Labels (1 points)==

==== Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels. ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Labelling Type
!Description
|-
|Bilingual labelling
|Present everywhere on both cans
|-
|Common name of the food
|Included on front of the cans - "Energy drink"
|-
|Country of Origin
|Has origin country of parent company and importer on the back of can - Red Bull GmbH in Austria, importer in Toronto
|-
|Date marking
|Best before date is listed on the bottom of the can (not pictured). This is explained on the back of the can, as can be seen in the pictures.
|-
|Storage instructions
|None
|-
|Identity and Principal Place of Business
|Parent company and importer listed on the back of the can along with their place of business
|-
|Irradiated foods
|Not applicable
|-
|Legibility and location
|All text is easily legible and mandatory text is where a consumer would expect it to be (e.g. ingredients, nutritional facts)
|-
|List of ingredients
|List of ingredients is present and is comprehensive. Very specific compounds are mentioned by name and there are minimal broad terms used
|-
|Nutrition Facts
|Present on the back of the can in the standard format that is expected. Note that this table is actually titled "Supplemented food facts", since energy drinks are technically classified as health supplements.
|-
|Net Quantity
|250 ml for both cans
|-
|Sweeteners
|Sugar free sweeteners: Sucralose and Acesulfame-potassium Original sweeteners: sugar, glucose-fructose
|-
|Other mandatory information
|Mandatory high caffeine warning included on both cans under ingredient list
|}

==== Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04. ====
Overall the information on both cans appears to comply with all the regulatory requirements in lesson 4. There are a few interesting things to note on the label:

* The main logo (Red Bull - Energy Drink) doesn't have bilingual text. This is likely ok because the smaller product description below has the product name in both languages.
* The can has origin country of parent company and importer, but not country of origin of the product. Further research revealed that energy drinks are considered health supplements and are exempt from country of origin labelling.
* Storage instructions are missing - this is likely because it will not expire no matter how it is stored, so these are unecessary.
* We noted the high caffeine warning which is a legal requirement, the specific amount of caffeine can be found under the nutrition facts label.

== Personal Choice (5 points)==
Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion.

==References==
Please use the Wikipedia reference style. Provide a citation for every sentence, statement, thought, or bit of data not your own, giving the author, year, AND page. '''Note:''' Before writing your wiki article on the UBC Wiki, it may be helpful to review the tips in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles Wikipedia: Writing better articles].<ref>En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Writing better articles. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].</ref>

WRITE LINKS HERE FOR NOW, CITE LATER:

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscording/2026/05/19/the-new-energy-drink-boom-is-about-more-than-caffeine/
* https://www.redbull.com/int-en/energydrink/company-profile
* https://www.commerce.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/doc/Taylor%20Testimony.pdf
* https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03779

CITATION TAGS:<references/>

{{Projectbox FNH200}}
[[Category:Food_Science]]

Course:FNH200/Assignments/2026/RedBull EnergyDrink

2026-07-19T18:37:35Z

TylerTran:

Introduction

This page is for '''GROUP 25''' from FNH 200 942 (Summer T2 2026). Our team members are as follows:

* Joshua Hart
* Ahaana Mitra
* Julian Renzetti
* Leah Song
* Tyler Tran

== Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) ==
As the rise of energy drinks dominates the beverage market amongst young adults, it's no surprise that energy drink companies have closely followed health and wellness trends to compete in the broader market [Cording, 2026]. In relation to recent content covered in FNH 200, reduced or sugar-free options have increased significantly, giving us a perfect opportunity to explore for this assignment.

Red Bull launched their original energy drink in 1987, but it wasn't until 2003 that their first sugar-free alternative was released under the variant name, "Sugarfree" [Taylor, 2013]. This assignment aims to compare both the original and sugar-free options along with their nutritional facts, ingredients, and overall differences in product make-up that make each an appealing choice for select consumers.

== Post pictures (Mandatory) ==
Attached below are images of the two products with the ingredient list and supplemented food facts. Click each image to take a closer look.

==== Red Bull Original ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Original.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original
File:Red_Bull_Original_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Original_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

==== Red Bull Sugarfree ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

== Ingredient lists (4 points)==

==== Type out the lists of ingredients: ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Original
!Sugarfree
|-
|Carbonated water, '''sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose)''', citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|Carbonated water, citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, '''sucralose''', '''xanthan gum''', niacinamide, '''acesulfame-potassium''', pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|}
(Bolded ingredients specify its uniqueness to its alternative)

==== Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used, if there is any. ====
Insert here. Ahaana

'''Explain the roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used in terms of the functional properties they contribute to the product.'''

Insert here. Ahaana

'''Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences.'''

The primary difference between original and sugar-free Red Bull lies in how food scientists replace both the sweetness and physical texture of real sugar. In the original version, energy is derived from a heavy blend of '''sugar and glucose-fructose''', which naturally thickens the liquid. When creating the sugar-free alternative, scientists swap these out for '''sucralose and acesulfame-potassium'''. These two zero-calorie artificial sweeteners are frequently blended together in commercial beverages because they mask each other's individual bitter or metallic aftertastes. Tricking our taste receptors into perceiving a clean, classic, sucrose-like flavor profile without the accompanying calories (Jang et al., 2021).

However, removing real sugar also removes physical weight, which can leave a diet drink feeling thin and watery to consumers. To replicate the original "mouthfeel," scientists add '''xanthan gum;''' a natural stabilizer and thickener. Xanthan gum alters the liquid's flow behaviour and resting thickness to mimic the density of the original version. This ensures the drink still feels premium on the tongue instead of thin and watery, while remaining completely easy to drink. Beyond this texture-and-sweetener swap, the foundational energy formula remains the same, relying on the mixture of caffeine, taurine, and metabolism-supporting B vitamins.

== Labels (1 points)==

==== Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels. ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Labelling Type
!Description
|-
|Bilingual labelling
|Present everywhere on both cans
|-
|Common name of the food
|Included on front of the cans - "Energy drink"
|-
|Country of Origin
|Has origin country of parent company and importer on the back of can - Red Bull GmbH in Austria, importer in Toronto
|-
|Date marking
|Best before date is listed on the bottom of the can (not pictured). This is explained on the back of the can, as can be seen in the pictures.
|-
|Storage instructions
|None
|-
|Identity and Principal Place of Business
|Parent company and importer listed on the back of the can along with their place of business
|-
|Irradiated foods
|Not applicable
|-
|Legibility and location
|All text is easily legible and mandatory text is where a consumer would expect it to be (e.g. ingredients, nutritional facts)
|-
|List of ingredients
|List of ingredients is present and is comprehensive. Very specific compounds are mentioned by name and there are minimal broad terms used
|-
|Nutrition Facts
|Present on the back of the can in the standard format that is expected. Note that this table is actually titled "Supplemented food facts", since energy drinks are technically classified as health supplements.
|-
|Net Quantity
|250 ml for both cans
|-
|Sweeteners
|Sugar free sweeteners: Sucralose and Acesulfame-potassium Original sweeteners: sugar, glucose-fructose
|-
|Other mandatory information
|Mandatory high caffeine warning included on both cans under ingredient list
|}

==== Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04. ====
Overall the information on both cans appears to comply with all the regulatory requirements in lesson 4. There are a few interesting things to note on the label:

* The main logo (Red Bull - Energy Drink) doesn't have bilingual text. This is likely ok because the smaller product description below has the product name in both languages.
* The can has origin country of parent company and importer, but not country of origin of the product. Further research revealed that energy drinks are considered health supplements and are exempt from country of origin labelling.
* Storage instructions are missing - this is likely because it will not expire no matter how it is stored, so these are unecessary.
* We noted the high caffeine warning which is a legal requirement, the specific amount of caffeine can be found under the nutrition facts label.

== Personal Choice (5 points)==
Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion.

==References==
Please use the Wikipedia reference style. Provide a citation for every sentence, statement, thought, or bit of data not your own, giving the author, year, AND page. '''Note:''' Before writing your wiki article on the UBC Wiki, it may be helpful to review the tips in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles Wikipedia: Writing better articles].<ref>En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Writing better articles. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].</ref>

WRITE LINKS HERE FOR NOW, CITE LATER:

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscording/2026/05/19/the-new-energy-drink-boom-is-about-more-than-caffeine/
* https://www.redbull.com/int-en/energydrink/company-profile
* https://www.commerce.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/doc/Taylor%20Testimony.pdf
* https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03779

CITATION TAGS:<references/>

{{Projectbox FNH200}}
[[Category:Food_Science]]

Course:FNH200/Assignments/2026/RedBull EnergyDrink

2026-07-19T05:31:40Z

TylerTran:

== Introduction ==
This page is for '''GROUP 25''' from FNH 200 942 (Summer T2 2026). Our team members are as follows:

* Joshua Hart
* Ahaana Mitra
* Julian Renzetti
* Leah Song
* Tyler Tran

== Briefly introduce your food products (Optional) ==
As the rise of energy drinks dominates the beverage market amongst young adults, it's no surprise that energy drink companies have closely followed health and wellness trends to compete in the broader market [Cording, 2026]. In relation to recent content covered in FNH 200, reduced or sugar-free options have increased significantly, giving us a perfect opportunity to explore for this assignment.

Red Bull launched their original energy drink in 1987, but it wasn't until 2003 that their first sugar-free alternative was released under the variant name, "Sugarfree" [2017]. This assignment aims to compare both the original and sugar-free options along with their nutritional facts, ingredients, and overall differences in product make-up that make each an appealing choice for select consumers.

== Post pictures (Mandatory) ==
Attached below are images of the two products with the ingredient list and supplemented food facts. Click each image to take a closer look.

==== Red Bull Original ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Original.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original
File:Red_Bull_Original_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Original_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Original supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

==== Red Bull Sugarfree ====
<div style="text-align: center;">
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Ingredient_List.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree ingredient list
File:Red_Bull_Sugarfree_Nutrition_Facts.jpg|Image of Red Bull Sugarfree supplemented food facts
</gallery>
</div>

== Ingredient lists (4 points)==

==== Type out the lists of ingredients: ====
{| class="wikitable"
!Original
!Sugarfree
|-
|Carbonated water, '''sugars (sugar, glucose-fructose)''', citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|Carbonated water, citric acid, tourine, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, caffeine, '''sucralose''', '''xanthan gum''', niacinamide, '''acesulfame-potassium''', pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium D-pantothenate, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), artificial flavour, caramel, riboflavin.
|}
(Bolded ingredients specify its uniqueness to its alternative)

==== Identify fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used, if there is any. ====
Insert here. Ahaana

'''Explain the roles of fat substitutes, sugar substitutes, and/or additives used in terms of the functional properties they contribute to the product.'''

Insert here. Ahaana

'''Compare and contrast the lists of the two products and explain differences.'''

Insert here. Tyler

== Labels (1 points)==

==== Provide detailed description of the information found on the labels. ====
Insert here. Julian

==== Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04. ====
Insert here. Julian

== Personal Choice (5 points)==
Please submit your individual component of this assignment on Canvas to protect your privacy and your personal opinion.

==References==
Please use the Wikipedia reference style. Provide a citation for every sentence, statement, thought, or bit of data not your own, giving the author, year, AND page. '''Note:''' Before writing your wiki article on the UBC Wiki, it may be helpful to review the tips in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles Wikipedia: Writing better articles].<ref>En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Writing better articles. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Writing_better_articles [Accessed 18 Jan. 2018].</ref>

WRITE LINKS HERE FOR NOW, CITE LATER:

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscording/2026/05/19/the-new-energy-drink-boom-is-about-more-than-caffeine/
* https://www.redbull.com/int-en/energydrink/company-profile
* https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2003/01/16/Red-Bull-targets-sugar-conscious-consumers/
CITATION TAGS:<references/>

{{Projectbox FNH200}}
[[Category:Food_Science]]