New report shows vape products could be misleading consumers
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Altria Group, an American tobacco company based in the Richmond area, is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase enforcement after their study found several vape products mislead consumers. Marlboro-maker Altria Group recently conducted a study involving independent labs to test what's inside some of the most popular vaping products. According to their results, 12 brands were tested, including Breeze Smoke, Elf Bar and Lost Mary. Findings show nine out of the 12 brands tested misrepresent the type of nicotine in their product, while 10 out of the 12 brands misrepresent the concentration of nicotine in their product. Some brands even reportedly contain traces of nicotine when the product claims to have zero nicotine. 8News spoke with Dr. Christopher Holstege about these findings. While he said he does not find the results surprising, he says they should raise a red flag for vape users. "If I'm thinking of buying a product that doesn't have nicotine in [it] and I find out that it actually does, that can still lead to further addiction. It can lead to people not sleeping well in the evening and can lead to other problems," Holstege said. The Altria Group claims the FDA is not monitoring products and their ingredients properly. They are calling on the FDA to impose stricter penalties on manufacturers, issue civil penalties and seek federal consequences among other things. 8News reached out to the FDA for a comment. A spokesperson told us, in part: Enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes is among the FDA’s highest priorities, including efforts to prevent the flow of these products into the United States. To accomplish this, FDA’s comprehensive approach to tobacco product compliance and enforcement is focused on the entire supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers who violate the law. Depending on the specific violation, the FDA may take various actions, including issuing warning letters and civil money penalty complaints, as well as working with federal partner agencies to conduct seizures, seek injunctions, or pursue criminal prosecution. "For the consumers to find out that products contain substances when they're advertised for not containing them, that's problematic," Holstege said. "We just want to make sure that people, when they're purchasing products, they know what they're getting." The Altria Group denied 8News' request for an interview.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Altria Group, an American tobacco company based in the Richmond area, is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to increase enforcement after their study found several vape products mislead consumers.
Marlboro-maker Altria Group recently conducted a study involving independent labs to test what's inside some of the most popular vaping products. According to their results, 12 brands were tested, including Breeze Smoke, Elf Bar and Lost Mary.
Findings show nine out of the 12 brands tested misrepresent the type of nicotine in their product, while 10 out of the 12 brands misrepresent the concentration of nicotine in their product. Some brands even reportedly contain traces of nicotine when the product claims to have zero nicotine.
8News spoke with Dr. Christopher Holstege about these findings. While he said he does not find the results surprising, he says they should raise a red flag for vape users.
"If I'm thinking of buying a product that doesn't have nicotine in [it] and I find out that it actually does, that can still lead to further addiction. It can lead to people not sleeping well in the evening and can lead to other problems," Holstege said.
The Altria Group claims the FDA is not monitoring products and their ingredients properly. They are calling on the FDA to impose stricter penalties on manufacturers, issue civil penalties and seek federal consequences among other things.
8News reached out to the FDA for a comment. A spokesperson told us, in part:
Enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes is among the FDA’s highest priorities, including efforts to prevent the flow of these products into the United States. To accomplish this, FDA’s comprehensive approach to tobacco product compliance and enforcement is focused on the entire supply chain, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers who violate the law. Depending on the specific violation, the FDA may take various actions, including issuing warning letters and civil money penalty complaints, as well as working with federal partner agencies to conduct seizures, seek injunctions, or pursue criminal prosecution.
"For the consumers to find out that products contain substances when they're advertised for not containing them, that's problematic," Holstege said. "We just want to make sure that people, when they're purchasing products, they know what they're getting."
The Altria Group denied 8News' request for an interview.
