I have been a satisfied customer of Bulk Supplements for several years. But one of my recent purchases has me re-thinking the faith I have in them to deliver what I order. Last year (January 2024), I bought 2 500g bags of Milk Thistle Extract powder from Bulk Supplements (delivered Feb 7th, 2024) to replenish my backup stock as this is an important product for me to always have on hand. So to explain, here's a little background context to set the scene: Following the pandemic, there were shortages of this product from various suppliers that I order from. So I had managed to find a limited supply from another vendor that I was using and wanted to finish up before I started using this new order that I got from Bulk Supplements. So it took me a few months to finally open my first bag from this order. Okay, then, so I opened the first bag in August 2024 (I always date my bags when I first open them so that I can gauge how long they will last me). The product was as expected and as it has always been (same color, same texture and consistency, with NO ADDED INGREDIENTS). I LOVED it !!! Did exactly what it's supposed to do.
Once that bag was finished (January 20th, 2025), I opened the 2nd bag from that order (which I then dated as well). (So, yes, I was well aware that it was way beyond Bulk Supplements’ 30-day guarantee window, however….) As I was in the process of encapsulating it, I quickly became aware that something was different about it. Come to see that it has a more powdery texture, is slightly lighter brown in color and has a slight smell. Couldn't put my finger on it at first. Kind of thought the inside of the bag smelt like chocolate. So then I tasted some of the powder. Sure enough, it tasted like slightly sweetened milk chocolate. So then I looked on the label to confirm that it did say "Milk Thistle Extract" (although this surely was not that) and to discover that it had "Dextrin" listed as an "Other ingredient". As I had just finished the other bag, I still had it (and still do) to compare it to, and sure enough, both bags say “Milk Thistle Extract”, but my first bag has “None” for “Other ingredients” whereas the second bag has “Dextrin” for “Other ingredients”. And they are also from 2 different lots.
Anyways, anyone who knows anything about milk thistle will know or should know that it should not include a sweetener as sweeteners will defeat the purpose of the milk thistle detoxifying the liver. Also, for those who are not familiar with the taste of pure milk thistle extract powder, it is somewhat bitter with a bit of an odd after taste and is kind of a little gritty, and so even with an added sweetener, it would not taste like milk chocolate.
Personally, I think their supplier screwed up. I've tried to bring this problem with this product to their attention, via 4 emails at this point to their customer service, and have supplied them with my delivery date (last February 2024), the lot number, and that they have a problem with their supplier of milk thistle, as milk thistle extract should never have an excipient, let alone a sweetener as an excipient, nor should it taste like sweetened milk chocolate !! While they have assured me that they do not sell milk chocolate powder, I'm suspecting that their supplier of milk thistle also has a milk chocolate powder and that there was a mixup that happened.
I would like to return this item to them so that they can test it for themselves, however, they are passing the blame on to me for possibly not having stored it the right way. While I always keep my backup supplies properly stored in a cool area, regardless of how I've stored it, there is nothing that could make milk thistle extract powder taste like sweetened milk chocolate powder unless it is sweetened milk chocolate to begin with.
As a result, I am definitely NOT satisfied with my go-nowhere replies from Bulk Supplements and WILL NOT re-order this product from them again, as I suspect that I will once again receive milk chocolate powder with the added dextrin instead of the milk thistle extract that I want and need. Nor will I recommend this company to other consumers because if they have this kind of a problem with the milk thistle, and are unwilling to look into it or correct it, how can I be assured that this same type of problem won't happen with other products they supply. As a result, I am actively looking for another supplier of PURE MILK THISTLE EXTRACT POWDER and am re-considering any possible future purchases I might make with them.
