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Nutrition Reviews

Head to head · Vitamins & Minerals

Emergen-C Vitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink Mix vs NOW Foods Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release

NOW Foods scores higher overall (8.1 vs 7.5 out of 10), mainly on value and transparency. Emergen-C still leads on quality & purity.

Updated October 2026 from our full reviews · How we score

Front of the Emergen-C Super Orange 30-packet carton as shown on the brand site
Emergen-CVitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink Mix
7.5
Good

The classic fizzy packet: 1,000 mg of vitamin C plus B vitamins and vitamin D, NSF-certified, but with 6 g of added sugar and only modest evidence for colds.

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Higher score
Front of NOW C-1000 Sustained Release 250-tablet bottle
NOW FoodsVitamin C-1000 Sustained Release
8.1
Good

1,000 mg of vitamin C with rose hips in a sustained-release tablet for about 6 cents a day; far more than most people need, but cheap and cleanly made.

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The short answer

Choose Emergen-C if…

  • People who prefer a flavored, fizzy drink to swallowing vitamin tablets
  • Heavy exercisers or people who eat few fruits and vegetables
  • Shoppers who want an NSF contents-certified, gluten-free option
  • You care most about quality & purity

Choose NOW Foods if…

  • People with low fruit and vegetable intake
  • Smokers and endurance athletes
  • Budget shoppers who want a large bottle
  • You care most about value, transparency

Side by side

Vitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink MixVitamin C-1000 Sustained Release
Our score7.5 / 108.1 / 10
Efficacy (30%)7.27.4
Quality & Purity (25%)8.37.6
Value (20%)6.59.6
Experience (15%)7.87.8
Transparency (10%)8.28.8
FormStick packTablet
Serving1 packet (8.8 g)30 servings per container1 tablet250 servings per container
Price per serving$0.53See retailer
Testing & certifications
NSF Contents Certified
cGMP facilityKosherHalal
DietaryVegetarian, Gluten-free, Non-GMOVegan, Gluten-free, Soy-free, Dairy-free, Non-GMO
Key ingredients
  • Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid, zinc ascorbate)1,000 mg
  • Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol)20 mcg (800 IU)
  • B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, folate, B12)
  • Zinc (as zinc ascorbate)2 mg
  • Potassium, magnesium and sodium200 mg / 53 mg / 65 mg
  • Added sugar (fructose)6 g
  • Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid)1,000 mg
  • Rose hips powder (Rosa canina, fruit)25 mg
Flavors7 (Super Orange, Raspberry, Tangerine…)—
Creator video reviews62

Pros and cons

Vitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink Mix

  • Super Orange powder is listed under NSF/ANSI 173 contents certification
  • 1,000 mg of vitamin C plus 800 IU of vitamin D3 and seven B vitamins in one packet
  • Dissolves quickly; caffeine-free and gluten-free with no artificial flavors, dyes or sweeteners
  • Buyers consistently like the convenience and the fizzy orange flavor
  • 6 g of added sugar per packet, 12% of the Daily Value
  • About 53 cents a packet at regular price, several times the cost of a plain vitamin C tablet
  • Evidence shows only a modest effect on cold duration and no clear benefit when started after symptoms begin
  • Some buyers report stomach upset, gas or a chalky taste

Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release

  • About $0.06 per day
  • 1,000 mg dose stays well under the 2,000 mg upper limit
  • Vegan, kosher and halal, made without major allergens
  • GMP-certified manufacturing
  • Far above daily needs, and absorption drops below 50% above 1 g
  • Large oval tablet with a noticeable vitamin smell
  • No evidence offered for the sustained-release design
  • No USP or NSF certification

Our verdicts

Vitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink Mix

Emergen-C is a well-made, NSF-certified way to get a daily dose of vitamin C, B vitamins and vitamin D, and many people simply enjoy the ritual. Research suggests daily vitamin C will not make most people catch fewer colds, regular use only modestly shortens them, and starting it at the first sniffle has little support. If you want vitamin C without 6 g of added sugar, a plain tablet costs a fraction as much.

Full review

Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release

An inexpensive, well-made way to take 1,000 mg of vitamin C a day from a manufacturer with solid quality systems. Most people get enough vitamin C from food, so it suits heavy exercisers, smokers and people with low fruit and vegetable intake best; others can take it less often.

Full review

What creators say

Questions people ask

Is Emergen-C better than NOW Foods?
In our scoring, NOW Foods Vitamin C-1000 Sustained Release rates higher overall (8.1 vs 7.5 out of 10). Emergen-C leads on quality & purity; NOW Foods leads on value and transparency. Scores weigh efficacy, quality, value, experience and transparency.
Are Emergen-C and NOW Foods third-party tested?
Emergen-C carries NSF Contents Certified; NOW Foods has no independent certification we could verify.
Who should choose Emergen-C over NOW Foods?
Our reviews suggest Emergen-C is best for people who prefer a flavored, fizzy drink to swallowing vitamin tablets, heavy exercisers or people who eat few fruits and vegetables and shoppers who want an NSF contents-certified, gluten-free option, while NOW Foods is best for people with low fruit and vegetable intake, smokers and endurance athletes and budget shoppers who want a large bottle.

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