Why do supplement companies do the artificial flavors & dyes?

[PhreakingFit]

I guess I can maybe understand the justifications of artificial flavors in supplements (I said understand, not agree) but I literally can't make sense of why anyone in their right mind would include fake coloring in "health" supplements? I guess I'm just asking if anyone knows some reason that I don't for including ingredients like red #40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 , Blue #2 etc etc.

I know it gets overlooked and I might even catch some heat but red #2 was already yanked because it's literally shown to cause cancer! Red #40 is showing to mess with kids and there aren't even significant research dollars behind the additives.

I'm trying to understand why this is a thing (and trust me, I take plenty)

[HeavenBeyond]

Everything causes cancer, didn't you know that?

[gbullock32]

Taste and aesthetics.

[PhreakingFit]

Everything causes cancer, didn't you know that?

Just everything manufactured within government regulations

[gbullock32]

Just everything manufactured within government regulations

CA prop 65....

[PhreakingFit]

Taste and aesthetics.

I guess another question.

Do you give a s*** what your powder looks like?

[gbullock32]

I guess another question.

Do you give a s*** what your powder looks like?

Personally, no. But people are generally stupid consumers; tell them something is fruit punch flavor and they expect it to be red, tell them it's blue raspberry and they expect blue.

[Misctake7]

Haven't seen anybody die from artificial coloring or flavoring, so honestly don't care if some is pixie dusted in a drink I mix up about 5 times a week before my workouts. So much other things in life to worry more about than some coloring and flavoring.

Apparently everything these days is bad for you. You're only safe if you grow your own fruits and veggies, herd your own cattle, milk your own cows, and have chickens to lay eggs for you. If you're at that extreme, then sure, worry about artificial coloring and flavoring.

[mtpaquette]

Back in the day when flavoring was whack it gave them more appeal. Now days most are moving away from them I feel like.

[poison]

I guess I can maybe understand the justifications of artificial flavors in supplements (I said understand, not agree) but I literally can't make sense of why anyone in their right mind would include fake coloring in "health" supplements? I guess I'm just asking if anyone knows some reason that I don't for including ingredients like red #40, FD&C Yellow No. 5 , Blue #2 etc etc.

I know it gets overlooked and I might even catch some heat but red #2 was already yanked because it's literally shown to cause cancer! Red #40 is showing to mess with kids and there aren't even significant research dollars behind the additives.

I'm trying to understand why this is a thing (and trust me, I take plenty)

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

[VaughnTrue]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

this this this this this.

[Gym God]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

Simply brilliant.

[NEBinAK]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

On spread

[Misctake7]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

Well said!

[TheFugitive]

I thought everyone loved bright colors

[TheFugitive]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

x5....

[poison]

this this this this this.

Simply brilliant.

On spread

Well said!

x4....

Dear forum,

Here we have a fine representation of some some top companies, all in agreement: we would LOVE to do all natural supplements. We are all supp users ourselves, and some of what drives our products is 'what would I want to use myself?'. I'd wager all of the above would prefer an all natural preworkout, for example. Myself, I've switched to solely using SAN stevia-sweetened proteins, but there's isn't a stevia sweetened pre I want to use.

So, if you guys can collectively step the **** up and not only demand it, but follow through and actually buy what you requested, just once, we would be very grateful.

Smootches,

teh supp companies

[MentalistMan]

Not all companies use artificial flavours/colour

[rjc12382]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

lol, Pretty much sums it up. Well said.

[Farley1324]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

Probably this.

I'll be honest, I was looking at a supp ad this morning, in a strawberry kiwi flavor IIRC, and the beautiful bright pink liquid pictured looked delicious. Just can't help it really, appearance, including color, really does have an impact on the perception of flavor, as mike mccandless has stated.

We can tell ourselves otherwise, but when guys are standing in the supp store or viewing the marketing department's artwork online, if it LOOKS good...

[VaughnTrue]

Probably this.

I'll be honest, I was looking at a supp ad this morning, in a strawberry kiwi flavor IIRC, and the beautiful bright pink liquid pictured looked delicious. Just can't help it really, appearance, including color, really does have an impact on the perception of flavor, as mike mccandless has stated.

We can tell ourselves otherwise, but when guys are standing in the supp store or viewing the marketing department's artwork online, if it LOOKS good...

there are countless studies which show appearance does in fact matter. this is why there are millions upon millions of dollars spent each year on market research. Color, packaging, and way more all contribute to the overall experience for a consumer.

Compete for IFN is a great example. We had rhodiola rosea in it originally, and people loved the effects. The brown herb powder however caused the yellow from lemon drop to look "muddy", and we received a ton of complaints. We changed the rhodiola out, and the reworked formula tasted identical to the original...but the coloring was more yellow. Zero complaints after that.

[Misctake7]

In all reality, would a preworkout without artificial coloring or dyes have our favorite ingredients like DMAA or DMHA in it? Quality and well rounded profile to ensure the pumps, energy, and focus we get from current favorites like Mesomorph? Highly doubt it. But if it was an option and processed competitively similar to the same product with artificial dyes and flavoring, then yes, I'd buy the natural option. Of course as long as the flavoring didn't make me cringe every time I took a sip. That's where I think the biggest problem would come into play. I'm not a guy that cares much about the flavoring in my preworkouts as long as I don't have to take my pre like it's a shot of terrible vodka. But in all reality, a natural flavoring isn't likley going to mask the terrible bitterness and taste of all the quality ingredients we all love.

[Farley1324]

there are countless studies which show appearance does in fact matter. this is why there are millions upon millions of dollars spent each year on market research. Color, packaging, and way more all contribute to the overall experience for a consumer.

Compete for IFN is a great example. We had rhodiola rosea in it originally, and people loved the effects. The brown herb powder however caused the yellow from lemon drop to look "muddy", and we received a ton of complaints. We changed the rhodiola out, and the reworked formula tasted identical to the original...but the coloring was more yellow. Zero complaints after that.

I'm not surprised. That's a shame, but, as they say, what are you gonna do?

[poison]

Not all companies use artificial flavours/colour

Megatron, case in point. It's has under 2gr of fillers per serving, and uses no artificial colors or flavors, only sweeteners (in the watermelonade flavor):

Natural Flavors (Tapioca Powder, Silica, Grape Skin Extract), Calcium Silicate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Sucralose, Acesulfame-K

It has that effect Vaughn describes above, due to herbal ingredients, it isn't dreamily tasty, but those who use it LOVE it, and it's probably better than most>all of the preworkouts in the top 100. But it isn't even close to a top 100 (or probably 500) seller here.

[naturalguy]

The consumers drive the market

[LoudyRowdy]

Colors make a difference and this is why below didn't sell

Spoiler!

[lucia316]

Here's an honest answer:

Because you fools bitch and moan about it, but when someone puts out some dope, all-natural formula, it doesn't sell, the forum is inundated with 'it doesn't taste like unicorn farts and rainbows' threads, and that affects the rest of the lineup.

Cliffs: the market has spoken.

The Roastmaster General has spoken. Seriously OP, beyond the above there is also the context of amount. If you're chugging grams upon grams of these ingredients then perhaps you may have something to be concerned about. But Poison is spot on. The market votes with their dollars thus companies give them what they want.

Personally, I don't care about color, but taste? No way I'm going back to the garbage flavor profiles of the 90s and early 00s. There were some products I choked down and nearly barfed every time. No fun.

[NumbNuh]

It's a mental thing, but every powder that mixes as clear or white makes me gag, I had one bad experience with a pre workout that was clear (I had to choke it down every time and hated it) and every time i get a clear drink I cant get it out of my head. In fact just yesterday instead of taking my usual pre workout I took a sample packet i got from this store because I didnt feel like drinking it srs.

[AMeyer9]

How else can you turn a 2g actives product into 7 gram scoop though bro?

Natural colorings are pretty rare since they're just another awful flavor to mask.

[VO2Maxima]

People absolutely care about flavor. You can have an amazing profile and if the product doesn't taste good, people will complain (and then other people will complain about people being flavor pussies, and all of a sudden you have a mess on the message boards lol). Plus the casual audience who doesn't necessarily know how to read a label will place flavor at a high priority. But nowadays, even the informed audience wants a good profile and good flavoring on top of that.

As for coloring, I take my preworkout in Technicolor
(Actually I have a colored shaker bottle and have no idea what color anything I use is. Also I couldn't handle those weird colored ketchups, too much of eating is visual).