Question 1

Is there a better brand of Taurine, not made in China.

Accepted Answer

I did/do not have an answer for your question.  The containers I have (for making cat food) only list the IL address.  I contacted NOW after searching NOW's website and could not find anything that would answer your question.  This was their response:"Thank you for your inquiry.  As with most USP amino acids, Taurine is sourced from China.  We quality test the material in our US lab and use it in our formulations.We obtain 4,000+ raw materials. Because of the realities of the supply chain, these can come not only from the U.S. but from all over the world. Some materials are from China; sometimes by necessity. One reason is that compared to here in the U.S., China has far more non-GMO corn and soy from which some ingredients are made. Some of the raw materials that we do source from China are pharmaceutical grade; by definition of known - and in fact the highest - quality.Of course, we audit our suppliers and test all of our raw materials for identity, strength, physical properties, environmental contaminants (including microbes, heavy metals, and pesticides), and adulterants (such as pharmaceuticals) as specified. Some raw materials are traditional Chinese botanicals sourced from their native region, which is appropriate and expected.So country of origin is less important to us than the integrity of the raw materials, as tested to our stringent specifications and proven to be pure and potent. Our labsÃ¢ÂÂ capabilities are more advanced and our specifications therefore can be stricter than most companies'.https://www.nowfoods.com/supplements/quality-safety"I looked up USP referenced in their reply and this one explains it fairly well:http://qualitymatters.usp.org/what-letters-usp-mean-label-your-medicineAlso, from Wikipedia:"In 1993, about 5,000Ã¢Â"6,000 tons of taurine were produced for commercial purposes: 50% for pet food and 50% in pharmaceutical applications.5 As of 2010, China alone has more than 40 manufacturers of taurine. Most of these enterprises employ the ethanolamine method to produce a total annual production of about 3,000 tons.6"Although NOW references USP in their reply to my inquiry, it is NOT on the label.  If you read the web page listed above, this indicates they do not have the USP oversight.That said, so much is now sourced elsewhere that you can never be sure where anything comes from.  At some point you either pull into your shell and do not buy anything, or take the Indiana Jones' "leap of faith" and put some trust into the companies providing products (not just taurine).BTW, if the taurine is for yourself, there are "natural" sources that provide high amounts of this amino acid - also from Wikipedia - it occurs naturally in meat and fish.  If you are vegetarian, then you may have no choice but to trust these products, as Wikipedia also indicates vegans have reduced taurine levels in their system.  If it is for making cat food, you really have to trust someone as this is a critical ingredient.  Also, from what I gather on reading all this information, this is a non-natural source, i.e. it would not be extracted from meat or fish, but rather 'produced', which would be the same for all companies that sell taurine.In summary, although there may be a/some taurine product(s) available out there that are not made in or sourced from China, it may be very difficult to find.  If you find one that says mfg in USA, you STILL do not know where it was sourced.  Whether China or some other non-US source, you either have to trust the 'parent' company, or do without.P.S. posted comment to other reply suggesting bulksupplements - their response was it is also sourced in China

Question 2

what is expiration dates? if I were to order 4 to 6 bottles how far out are expiration dates?????

Accepted Answer

I have had my 8 oz. Now Taurine powder for several months now (I use it with my son and dog who have seizures.  I'm not 100% certain if it helps but my son's Mayo Clinic neurologist expressed interest in our use of it with our son.  It's something that is being looked at to help with seizures.).  I looked at the bottom and it expires 05/16.  It will be long gone before that date.

Question 3

Is this taurine from a vegetarian source? If not, what is the source?

Accepted Answer

"it says vegetarian/vegan on the label."  I believe what this means is it is "safe" for vegetarians and vegans in that it doesn't come from an animal source.  Taurine supplements are manufactured.  Our bodies produce some, but we generally get more from animal based products, mainly meat.  It is essential to add to cat food, if you make your own.

Question 4

how many mg of taurine per serving?

Accepted Answer

1/4 level teaspoon equals 1 gram (1000 mg) of Taurine

Additives	Amino Acid
Weight	227 g
Units	236.59 Milliliters
Serving Recommendation	1/4 Level Teaspoon (approx. 1 g)
Brand	NOW
Format	Powder
Age Range Description	Adult

NOWTaurine Powder - 8 oz.

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