Dave: It sounds to me like you’ve experienced a certain form of vitamin A toxicity known as “chronic hypervitaminosis A”. Google this term to read more about it. Those people who got sick almost immediately after their first dose of Vega probably experienced acute vitamin A toxicity or acute hypervitaminosis A. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to overdose on this vitamin, especially if your diet is rich in carotenoids (beta-carotene is converted into Vitamin A) or you have very low levels of vitamin D in your body. Both is even worse. The fact that Vega contains Vitamin D2 does not help at all since it is known to interfere with Vitamin D3 which is the superior and preferred form of Vitamin D. Too much Vitamin D2 can actually contribute to a deficiency of Vitamin D3. I’m not sure if the 400IU of vitamin D2 per serving that’s found in Vega is problematic but it certainly doesn’t help matters. Personally, I’d like to see it completely removed from the formula because I think it does more harm than good. The latest research and lab testing indicates that most people in North America are severely deficient in vitamin D. Therefore, we need to get a lot more vitamin D3 from sunshine, eggs, salmon, cod liver oil, and supplementation during the winter/spring. Most people need anywhere from 2000-5000 IU per day. THIS IS THE OPTIMAL AMOUNT. The current RDA of 400 IU is simply not enough. Not only does an adequate and sufficient intake of Vitamin D3 significantly improve your general health, it will also help prevent Vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin K2 is also extremely important and beneficial for your health. I take both in supplement form.

Anyway, just some food for thought (no pun intended).

Please pass on my posts to whoever at Vega is looking into this problem. I know I sound like a complainer, but I actually know a thing or two. If it helps, great. If not, no one there should take it amiss. My use of the word “rot” was not meant to offend, it was just to identify one possible cause for why some people claim to be vomiting from this product.

All the best.

Please be assured that digestive enzymes added to the product does not contribute to decomposition and “rot”. Our product is tested to ensure that the content meets its label claims, including the amount of nutrients and vitamins and minerals. We also conduct testing throughout the products’ lifespan to ensure that our product quality is consistent through its shelf life.

Let us know if you have any more questions or concerns.

Cheers,
Victoria

I’m no nutritional scientist, but to me, it seems foolhardy for Vega to have added digestive enzymes in with the product itself. While enzymes do not break down foods on their own, if the least little bit of moisture and/or bacteria enter the container, then it’s very likely that something is going to react with something else, and that you’re going to see some kind of decomposition over time, which could lead to rot. Is that not a reasonable guess as to what’s going on here?

Also – currently, I take digestive enzyme supplements to support my digestion. The way I do that is to take a capsule right before I eat. That way, the enzymes are right there in my stomach, so that once everything mixes together, the food can be digested more easily. Taking supplements SEPARATELY is a perfectly convenient way to facilitate digestion. Why, then, I wonder, has Vega chosen to swim against the current by including digestive enzymes right in the mix with everything else? Would it not be easier to just sell them separately and say, “Please take Vega Digestive Enzymes just before consuming our Whole Food Optimizer”?

I’ve contacted Vega with these concerns, and I got a courteous but also somewhat dismissive reply. Naturally, I could be off the mark with my theory, but I also think they’re running scared, a little.

I’ve also just looked at one of their pamphlets. Their overall philosophy is so admirable! I agree whole-heartedly with the idea of offering “nutrient dense” whole food products. I just think that, in this case, they may have taken it too far. I hope they fix their mistake ASAP so that they can continue to offer good products that do JUST WHAT WE NEED, NOT MORE!!