Red Bull, also known as Bò Húc or Bò Cụng in Vietnam, is an energy drink that originated in Thailand. Initially, Red Bull was a non-carbonated nutritional drink, but with foreign investment and development, it evolved into a carbonated beverage and spread worldwide.
In the Vietnamese market, there are two types of Red Bull: one produced in Thailand and the other in Vietnam. The drink is popular in Vietnam and is considered one of the most popular energy drinks in the market. Due to its popularity, counterfeiting of this drink is common, and consumers must be cautious to avoid buying inferior products.
The design, ring pull, ingredients, and origin are key factors in distinguishing an authentic Red Bull from a counterfeit one. Firstly, the authentic Red Bull logo features two bulls with sharp horns about to “charge” at each other, with a yellow circle in between, outlined in white. Below the logo are Thai words in green, followed by the words KRATINGDAENG and the familiar RedBull branding.
Counterfeit products often feature different bull designs and shapes in the center, such as hexagons or ovals, or circles in different colors. The name of the product is also altered, with variations like RedDeer, Red Saola, RedGold, QileBull, RedDemi, Red Star, Red Goats, Trâu húc, and more. Some examples of counterfeit designs are shown below:
Image caption: Different bull design, non-circular shape in the center, and product name changed to RedGold
Image caption: Two bulls replaced by two deers, circular shape with a red outline, and product name changed to RedDeer
Image caption: Completely different logo, product name changed to Qile Bull, and the presence of Chinese characters
2 Ring Pull
The ring pull of an authentic Red Bull can is another distinguishing factor. It is red in color and shaped like a bull, resembling the logo. Counterfeit products usually have a plain red ring pull without the bull shape.
3 Ingredients
The ingredients of an authentic Red Bull can are as follows: Water, Sugar, Acid Regulators: Citric Acid (330), Taurine (1000mg), Acidity Regulators: Sodium Carbonate (500ii), Synthetic Fruit Flavorings, Caffeine, Inositol (50mg), Lysine (50mg), Choline (50mg). Preservative: Sodium Benzoate (211). Vitamins B3 (20mg), B5 (5mg), B6 (3mg), Artificial Colors: Tartrazine (102) and Ponceau 4R (124), Vitamin B12 (49).
Consumers should carefully check the ingredients listed on the can to ensure they match the authentic product.
4 Origin
Authentic Red Bull is produced by Red Bull Vietnam Co., Ltd., located in Di An, Binh Duong province, Vietnam, under the license of T.C Pharmaceutical Industries Co., Ltd. (Thailand). If the product is not manufactured by this company, it is likely a counterfeit.
By paying attention to these four key details—design, ring pull, ingredients, and origin—consumers can minimize the risk of purchasing counterfeit Red Bull products. It is recommended to purchase Red Bull from reputable retailers or directly from the brand’s website to ensure the product’s authenticity and safeguard your health.
