I know there are a lot of discussions about B12 on the forum, so I apologize if this has been addressed before. I decided to buy B12 supplements at the store tonight. I went to the nearest store, Safeway, because I figured B12 was B12 anywhere you went. However, now that I'm home and actually reading the ingredients, I'm not sure. The ingredients are:

Lactose, Dicalcium Phosphate, Starch, Magnesium Stearate, Red 40 Lake, Cyanocobalamin.

Are these typical B12 Supplement ingredients? Lactose? Red 40? Why are these in there?? I tried looking this stuff up but I wasn't finding what I wanted. I'm hoping someone here can help me out!

From what I understand, lactose is typically from milk. 

Red 40 is not. It's now typically petroleum derived. Sounds gross because it IS!

Cyanocobalamin is the B12 part.  Dunno why your supplement has red coloring in it. Industry puts color into things all willy nilly it seems. Bleh.

Don't buy vitamins at grocery or drug stores.  They are absolutely worthless.  And most brands of vitamins even at health food stores are worthless but you'll know when you find a good one.  Look for whole food supplements whenever possible.  For B12 I use the sublingual liquid made by Solgar.  I found it at a local health food store after trying several other drug store and natural food store brands that did nothing. 

The first year I was vegan I didn't know about the B12 thing, so I didn't take a supplement.  Almost a year to the day, my chiropractor noticed that the skin around my lips was cracked and peeling.  I had though my lips were chapped because it was January and I'd been outside a lot.  He informed me I had a B12 deficiency and it would be hard to replenish myself.  So I tried a bunch of different brands, like I said before, and nothing helped.  My skin got really gross and painful.  After about four months, I found the B12 supplement from Solgar and my skin cleared up within three days, seriously.  Within a month I felt like a million bucks.  I've used it every day since.

http://www.solgar.co.uk/modules/catbuild/files/LiquidB122000ugwithBComplex2floz59mlE1595.htm