3 replies to this topic

[moleface]

Are there any reasons OTHER than adulteration/impurity that could cause a bulk powder supplement to have a weaker flavor than it should?

I'm wondering because I just received a large order from Health Supplement Wholesalers, and I'm noticing that two of the products have a significantly weaker taste compared to the Swanson brand I normally use. The vitamin c powder doesn't taste as strongly acidic and the inositol isn't as sweet. It's hard to quantify this sort of thing, but I'd say that they taste about 25% weaker.

I'm not disparaging this brand or trying to imply that they're ripping anyone off - I've had quite a few good experiences with them and their prices are very nice. I'm just wondering what factors could be responsible for the difference in flavor.

Edited by moleface, 30 March 2013 - 12:04 AM.

[Bonee]

Vitamin c is so cheap i would be surprised if they adulterate it.
Our senses are so subjective, if you want to be sure buy some ph tester stick and look up the ph of vit c.

[moleface]

Vitamin c is so cheap i would be surprised if they adulterate it.
Our senses are so subjective, if you want to be sure buy some ph tester stick and look up the ph of vit c.

That's a good point re: the subjectivity of taste. Taste memory is probably just as flawed as any sensory memory.

I'm big into audiophilia(ugh... it sounds so dirty when you call it that) and I've noticed that my enjoyment of different sound equipment can wildly fluctuate depending on the context and my mood. I'll be in love with a certain pair of headphones, but then I'll stick them on the shelf for awhile after buying a different pair - and when I go back to the original pair months later, suddenly they'll sound much different to me than I'd remembered them.

Like I said, I wasn't trying to jump to conclusions or disparage a company. I have no objective basis to judge the taste of these supplements unless I had some Swanson brand to compare side by side.

[Gr888Scott]

Well, though this reply is now months old, here is what the fine print on their label says:


See it?

Generally Vitamin C powder is 4000mg per teaspoon.

Theirs, according to this label, is 1600mg per teaspoon.

Less than 25% potency than the norm.

But hey, at least there is the proverbial fine print.


So, your senses aren't deceiving you.


I try to take near what Linus Pauling took, 18g a day. If I remember I can pretty easilly at least get 10g in daily. You can find 4g/tsp "C" around for about $15 a pound.