My Solgar Ester-C 1000 mg Had a Swollen Seal, Bad Odor

On March 28, 2025, I purchased a bottle of Solgar Ester-C 1000 mg (60 tablets) from a local pharmacy. When I opened the cap, I noticed the protective seal was puffed up, and upon breaking it, I heard a distinct “puff” sound followed by a release of foul, sour-smelling air. The odor was extremely strong and unpleasant, nothing like what I’m used to from this product.

I’ve been using this same vitamin for a long time, and I know how it should smell and look. This was clearly abnormal, and I immediately returned it to the pharmacy. They contacted Solgar, but the brand refused to accept the product for replacement. Thankfully, the pharmacy, out of respect for customer satisfaction, exchanged it at their own expense.

Later, I checked online and found multiple complaints describing the exact same issue—especially with the same product. Clearly, this points to a production issue in a faulty batch. Solgar tried to dismiss the problem by claiming the odor came from “natural ingredients” and the seal burst due to added nitrogen. But if that were true, why have none of my previous bottles ever behaved this way?

It’s obvious that Solgar is avoiding responsibility to avoid financial loss, shifting the burden onto pharmacies and customers instead. I’m extremely frustrated with how many people have experienced this, yet Solgar refuses to admit fault or take action.

I will be writing to Solgar International directly to ensure they are aware of the poor customer treatment and product quality issues being caused by their Turkey-based representatives. This isn’t acceptable—own your mistake and treat your customers and retail partners with the respect they deserve. I demand full accountability and improved quality control.