Seven types of disposable liquid electronic cigarettes labeled as nicotine-free tested positive for nicotine levels of up to 158 mg.
On the 26th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced the results of an investigation into the nicotine and similar nicotine content of 15 disposable liquid electronic cigarette products sold online. Twelve of the products were labeled as nicotine-free, and two products had no indication of nicotine content. As a result, seven of the twelve products labeled as nicotine-free and the two products without any indication of nicotine contained 82 to 158 mg of nicotine.
Additionally, in one of the 15 products tested (Jelly Bar Shine Muscat), 13 mg of methyl nicotine, a similar substance to nicotine, was detected. Methyl nicotine is a newly identified substance with a chemical structure similar to nicotine, and there is no clear safety data regarding acute toxicity and neurostimulation, which may pose health risks. Furthermore, despite the absence of nicotine labeling, this product contained 120 mg of nicotine, which is similar to the level found in 240 cigarettes with a nicotine content of 0.5 mg.
The Korea Consumer Agency noted that products labeled as nicotine-free could easily be confused with smoking cessation aids, which are pharmaceuticals inhaled in a form similar to cigarettes, and thus consumers need to exercise caution.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, upon checking the ‘youth harm labels’ of the 15 products surveyed, it was found that 14 products either lacked relevant labeling or had insufficient labeling.
Based on the findings of this investigation, the Korea Consumer Agency recommended that businesses selling products that were labeled as nicotine-free but tested positive for nicotine or similar nicotine discontinue sales and that those selling products with insufficient ‘youth harm labels’ improve their labeling.
Following a request to relevant authorities for inspections of disposable liquid electronic cigarettes, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will check youth harm labeling, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will inspect products labeled as nicotine-free. The Korea Consumer Agency urged consumers to exercise caution when using disposable liquid electronic cigarettes and to check for pharmaceutical labeling when purchasing smoking cessation aids.