Pure Encapsulations: Still Good Under Nestle? Where to Buy?

This is my review and opinion of Pure Encapsulations after Nestle bought out the brand.

Disclaimer: The “Pure Encapsulations” trademark and logo are owned by Pure Encapsulations, LLC. This post reflects my own personal opinion and is not sponsored or endorsed by PE.

Located in Sudbury, Massachusetts, Pure Encapsulations is known as one of the prominent manufacturers of premium, hypoallergenic (allergen-free) dietary supplements. This brand primarily focuses on marketing and selling their products through the healthcare practitioner channel.

Unlike many other popular brands that can be found at most local and online retail stores, Pure Encapsulations’ products are exclusively sold to healthcare professionals, and consumers can access them through their doctor, naturopath, etc. There are also a few online stores authorized to sell their products directly to consumers (scroll down the page for a recommended vendor).

Nestle Takeover and Controversy

Pure Encapsulations, alongside a few sister brands, have grown so popular over the past few years to the point it drew the interest of a giant multinational food corporation; Nestle.

Indeed, in late 2017, Nestle acquired Atrium Innovations; The parent company that owns Pure Encapsulations, Garden of Life, Douglas Laboratories, and a few other brands (official press release).

After the news about the acquisition came out, some customers were so unhappy that they decided to stop buying this brand’s products, and some even called for others to boycott the company! Why? Basically because they see Nestle as an “evil” megacorporation that only cares about boosting their profits and doesn’t really care about the health or welfare of others, especially those working in their supply chain.

Well, I’m not going to get into that argument here… you are free to believe whatever you want. And while I’m not a fan of multinational megacorporations, I’m also not a fan of completely boycotting anything.

Despite the controversy about Nestle’s raw material sourcing ethics, I think some people go a little too far demonizing this company. I don’t think they are less ethical than most other companies out there, but because they are one of the biggest global brands, they are in the spotlight more often than other companies.

Did Pure Encapsulations Change After Nestle’s Acquisition?

One of the main arguments made by people who weren’t happy about the acquisition is that under Nestle’s management, the product quality will start degrading as the company would seek to cut corners and use cheaper ingredients in order to lower costs and maximize profitability. However, after a couple of years under the new ownership, there is nothing to suggest that this has been the case.

If you look at customer reviews of PE supplements over the past couple of years, you’ll notice that they are mostly positive as usual. It’s just customers who have a somewhat subjective negative view of Nestle that decided not to buy Pure Encapsulations anymore, and not because the quality has changed.

But everyone may have their own definition of good and bad, so if you’re not comfortable with this brand any longer, there are certainly several other reliable manufacturers to choose from.

Benefits of Pure Encapsulations

The following are some of the main pros of this brand:

• Lab-Tested Ingredients: Just like any other manufacturer, PE sources raw ingredients from different supplier in different countries. They test all of the raw materials for identity, potency and safety. This includes testing for different heavy metals, pesticides and other contaminants.
• Made in the USA: PE runs its own cGMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Sudbury, Massachusetts, where all of their products are manufactured.
• Free From Allergens: Most of PE’s products are hypoallergenic and free from common allergens, such as soy, dairy, eggs, gluten, peanuts, etc. Certain products may contain one or more of these allergens, in which case it would be clearly listed on the label. So if you have a food allergy, always check the label before you order any product.
• Clean: No unnecessary additives or fillers are used in their products. You’ll notice that most formulas have a short list of additional ingredients that only includes essential additives. They are free from GMOs, artificial flavors and colors, and magnesium stearate.
• Comes in Capsules: Almost all of Pure’s supplements are in capsule form. They use vegetarian capsules that are easy to swallow and less likely to get stuck in your throat compared to solid tablets. Capsules also don’t contain the extra fillers, binders and excipients that are often used to make tablets.

Drawbacks of Pure Encapsulations

Some may consider being part of a multinational megacorp a disadvantage, but that’s a debatable point. The following are a few of the more objective cons of this brand:

• Expensive: PE is one of the most expensive supplement brands on the market. The high price point is a common drawback of all practitioner brands and this one is no exception. Some of their products are more reasonably priced than others though.
• Not Tested For Corn: Although the brand is big on being “hypoallergenic” and they do test for most allergens, there is one potential allergen they do not test for, namely corn. While they don’t use corn in their formulas, some ingredients (e.g. vitamin C, B12, B2) are made using dextrose as a fermentation sugar. Dextrose is a sugar isolated from corn, and although it should not normally contain any significant amounts of corn proteins, it is possible that it still has traces of corn protein.
• Not For Everyone: This brand is intended for professional use and it is advised that you talk to your doctor before you take any of their products. Some formulas contain megadoses of certain nutrients that are designed for specific therapeutic uses and may not be suitable or safe for general regular supplementation.

Where to Buy Pure Encapsulations’ Supplements?

Besides being sold at doctors’ offices across the USA, a few online health stores are authorized to distribute Pure Encapsulations’ products, and one of the most convenient of these is PureFormulas. They have one of the largest selections of PE products you can find online.

PureFormulas ships domestically and internationally to several countries. Check out their listing page for Pure Encapsulations products, most of which have plenty of mixed customer reviews that can be helpful for first-time buyers. Unlike Amazon, there are no third-party or fraudulent sellers on this site and they source the products directly from the manufacturer, so you can be sure you’ll get the real deal. They also carry many other professional supplement brands you can check out.

Pure Encapsulations vs. Garden of Life

Although both Pure Encapsulations and Garden of Life are owned by the same parent company, they operate separately and each brand has its own philosophy and standards.

Both companies make quality products, but while Pure Encapsulations’ main focus is producing hypoallergenic supplements, Garden of Life’s primary mission is making whole food supplements that are free from synthetics. Many GOL products are also certified organic and vegan.

Pure Encapsulations does use some synthetic ingredients in their products, including synthetic vitamin forms, such as thiamine HCl (vitamin B1) and pyridoxine HCl (vitamin B6). As a matter of fact, most manufacturers use such synthetic vitamins in their formulas because they are easier to produce in large quantities.

Synthetic vitamins are chemically similar to their natural counterparts and they have the same effects in the body. However, there have been some concerns raised about the safety and efficacy of some of these synthetic nutrients, especially when taken by people who don’t need to take them.

While isolated synthetic vitamins are generally safe and do their job, those that are made with whole food are more tolerable and less likely to upset your stomach or cause other side effects, even when taken on an empty stomach.

Another difference between the two brands is that vitamin supplements made by Pure Encapsulations contain relatively high dosages that are intended for medicinal use based upon doctor recommendation. On the other hand, Garden of Life’s products contain lower, moderate dosages that are more suitable for general everyday supplementation.

So, if you would like to try whole food vitamins and other plant-based supplements, Garden of Life is a great brand to go with. Click here to check out Garden of Life products.

Are Vitamin Supplements Really Worth it?

Well, for most people, no they aren’t! Even if you aren’t meeting the recommended daily intake of some vitamins, you are unlikely to suffer from symptomatic deficiency.

Supplementation may only be effective in certain cases, such as absorption issues, restrictive diets (e.g. vegan), as well as certain health conditions or medications that can cause depletion in the levels of certain vitamins/minerals.

Healthy people don’t need to waste their money on vitamins since they aren’t likely to provide any significant health benefits. On the contrary, taking high dosages of certain vitamins may cause adverse effects and even some serious health risks in the long run. For example, taking too much pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in synthetic supplement form can cause nerve damage (neuropathy).

Add to that the fact that isolated vitamins taken in supplement form aren’t as efficiently absorbed by the body as those found in real food. The presence of many other phytonutrients in whole foods helps the body better absorb and utilize different vitamins, and that’s not something you can find in a pill. Even whole food vitamins aren’t nearly as good as real food.

Unless your doctor has advised you to take certain vitamins, you’re probably better off saving your money for something more useful. Unlike what some companies claim and promote, supplements aren’t for everyone who’s looking for a better and healthier life! The best way to achieve that is by consuming a balanced diet rich in healthy, whole fruits and vegetables (not necessarily the expensive ones!)

Your body is designed to absorb moderate amounts of vitamins alongside other nutrients found in whole food. Taking one megadose of isolated and concentrated vitamins isn’t very natural, and most of it may end up passing through the digestive tract without being absorbed.

Supplements do have their uses, but only in specific cases and as recommended by a healthcare professional. Not everyone should be taking dietary supplements!

Alternative Practitioner Brands

Pure Encapsulations may be the top practitioner brand in the U.S. dietary supplement market, but there sure are plenty of others you can consider. Three other reputable, doctor-trusted brands that offer quality products are Vital Nutrients, Klaire Labs and Integrative Therapeutics.

Like PE, these are also on the higher end of the price scale, as is the case with almost all practitioner brands in the USA. If you are a frugal consumer, you can look into non-practitioner brands where you can find some more economic alternatives with comparable quality.

Alternative Non-Practitioner Brands

Despite the hefty price tag, some of the specialized formulations made by PE are worth the investment and may not be available elsewhere. However, some consumers may not be able to afford buying all the supplements they need from this premium brand (or any other premium brand).

For more basic, commonplace products — like single vitamins and essential nutrients — you can get more bang for your buck with some other less pricey brands. Solgar and NOW Foods are two excellent choices of affordable supplement brands that offer quality products.

Final Thoughts

The fact that Pure Encapsulations is now under Nestle’s ownership does not mean the company has changed its strict quality standards and manufacturing practices, for which it has been known for many years. Where you choose to spend your money is your own decision to make. This post was intended to highlight some of the facts and offer a personal opinion on the matter.

If you’d like to order Pure Encapsulations’ products online from an authorized distributor, go to PureFormulas. This is an independent vendor that is not owned by PE or Nestle. They also carry many other decent brands and they offer free shipping on most products.