5 replies to this topic

[E.T.]

In the past, I remember stevia being sold as pure extract, standardized to 80% stevosides. But, now Vitamin Shoppe and NBTY delutes it down to only 25% stevia, with the rest being some type of plant fiber, yet they charge the same price. As a result, you have to use a lot more of the powder to get the sweetness.

I think most supplement companies are just like prescription companies: only interested in profits, not consumer health. For example, if Wyeth offered enough money to buy off NBTY and Vitamin Shoppe in order to shut them down, I think they would sell it, if the price was right. This is why I am glad we have LEF. If we don't at least buy just one of our supplements from LEF, they can go out of business, esp. with all the companies going bankrupt at the moment.

[E.T.]

This is why I am glad we have LEF. If we don't at least buy just one of our supplements from LEF, they can go out of business, esp. with all the companies going bankrupt at the moment.

I'm also glad we have RevGenetics.com I think that company is also very honest and actually ideologically believes in the products they sell: it's not just a money thing for them.

[FunkOdyssey]

It comes down to offering more than competing brands. Stevia must be diluted in order to use it in teaspoon-size servings, otherwise it would be overpoweringly sweet. So, you can use something plain like dextrose, or you can get a leg up on the competition by using something possibly beneficial as your filler (inulin). In this particular case, they are not trying to "put one over on you" as much as they are trying to offer a more appealing product.

Edited by FunkOdyssey, 11 November 2008 - 03:58 PM.

[E.T.]

It comes down to offering more than competing brands. Stevia must be diluted in order to use it in teaspoon-size servings, otherwise it would be overpoweringly sweet. So, you can use something plain like dextrose, or you can get a leg up on the competition by using something possibly beneficial as your filler (inulin). In this particular case, they are not trying to "put one over on you" as much as they are trying to offer a more appealing product.

I currently work in the supplement industry, and many consumers I talk to are not happy that the Stevia is now being deluted: they complain that in the past, a teaspoon of Stevia could sweeten a gallon of ice tea, but that now, they have to use much more, thus making it too expensive.

Plus, major supplement companies sweeten their products with sucralose, a mild neurotoxin, instead of Stevia, I assume because sucralose is cheaper for them.

Our economic system is capitalist: the goal is to have constant growth in profits: the only thing on the mind of most comanies is to increase profits, at whatever cost: for example, Vitamin Shoppe board meetings don't start of with "What can we do to make people more heatlhy?" but instead "what can we do to increase our profits?" Supplement companies consider deluting products, reducing the standardization, using cheaper synthetics, and so forth, to maximize growth in profit. This is just our current economic system. It's not that CEOs are "evil," but rather that this is simply the economic system we currently support.

[4eva]

All businesses have to keep an eye on the bottom line. And consumers should shop around and read labels even if you've used that product before. Its a dog eat dog world.

I don't think you made your case that it is all about profits. I don't see how you can know why Vitamin Shoppe made this change even if you may work there.

I think it might be a combo of things.

Chicory is added to stevia to prevent that bitter taste if too much is used. And I think there may be some benefit to adding a prebiotic for some reason.

Chicolin is a new trademarked form of chicory developed for use with stevia.

I think there may be a move away from pure stevia powder because a combo product is superior.

And it is probably a way of increasing profit margins for either or both the sellers and the manufacturers.

If they make improvements to a product making that product better then its no surprise to me that the sellers and manufacturers will increase their markup. That's how business is done.

You haven't said how this addition isn't an improvement. It may require some adjusting the amount you use but that's unavoidable if the added fiber is improving the stevia sweetner.

Pure stevia powder is still available.

[E.T.]

I don't see how you can know why Vitamin Shoppe made this change even if you may work there.

I didn't say I worked there. I simply work in the supplement industry. I witness first hand all the deceptive tactics to increase profits.