‘Avoid vitamin E acetate’

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised vapers to avoid inhaling vitamin E acetate in the wake of recent reports of respiratory illnesses and deaths.

Vitamin E acetate is a substance present in topical consumer products or dietary supplements, but data are limited about its effects after inhalation.

While acknowledging that it does not have enough data presently to conclude that vitamin E acetate is the cause of the lung injury in the reported cases, the FDA believes it is prudent to avoid inhaling this substance.

Because consumers cannot be sure whether any THC vapor products may contain vitamin E acetate, the FDA also urges consumers to avoid buying vapor products on the street and to refrain from using THC oil or modifying/adding any substances to products purchased in stores.

British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world’s largest vapor companies, welcomed the FDA’s recommendation.

“We fully support the FDA’s view that vapers should always source their devices and liquids from reputable manufacturers, should avoid modifying or adding substances to the products they purchase and should only ever use the devices as the manufacturer intended,” said David O’Reilly, BAT’s director of scientific research in a statement.

The FDA is currently analyzing samples submitted by a number of states for the presence of a broad range of chemicals, including nicotine, THC and other cannabinoids along with cutting agents/diluents and other additives, pesticides, opioids, poisons, heavy metals and toxins.

According to the FDA, no one substance has been identified in all of the samples tested.