Vitamin C 1000 mg Immune Support Drink Mix

Emergen-C's Super Orange packets are the original fizzy vitamin C drink mix, introduced by Alacer Corp. in 1978 and now distributed by Haleon. Each 8.8 g packet, stirred into 4 to 6 oz of water, provides 1,000 mg of vitamin C (1,111% of the Daily Value), 20 mcg (800 IU) of vitamin D3 in the current "now with vitamin D" version, seven B vitamins, 2 mg of zinc and small amounts of potassium, magnesium and sodium. It also has 30 calories and 6 g of added sugar from fructose, 12% of the Daily Value for added sugars.

The evidence is more modest than the "immune support" branding suggests. A Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials found that taking at least 200 mg of vitamin C every day did not reduce how often people in the general population caught colds, though it shortened colds by about 8% in adults; only people under heavy physical stress, such as marathon runners, saw their risk halved. Starting vitamin C after symptoms appear, which is how many people use these packets, showed no consistent benefit. Most adults need 75 to 90 mg a day, absorption falls at high doses, and 2 mg of zinc in a drink is not the zinc-lozenge approach studied for colds. In 2014 a court approved a $6.45 million class-action settlement over its maker's cold-and-flu claims.

Quality is a strength: NSF lists the Super Orange powder under its NSF/ANSI 173 contents certification, and the carton carries the NSF mark. Buyers consistently praise the convenience and fizzy orange taste, while recurring complaints include a chalky or chemical flavor, stomach upset or gas, and packets that harden from moisture. At Target's regular $15.99 for 30 packets, each costs about 53 cents, several times the price of a plain vitamin C tablet.