In the early days of vaping, health experts applauded these electronic devices as a cleaner and safer alternative to smoking. They were touted for being a tool that helped people kick the nicotine habit for good.

Fast forward to 2019, and non-smokers are flocking to this habit in droves. As a result, health advocates have expressed concern about safety and are urging consumers to look for the safest vape juice they can find. These health experts have clamored for regulation, safety studies, and bans for use by minors. It’s taken some time for the FDA to catch up, and their involvement is still expanding. Some e-liquid manufacturers are “grandfathered in” and aren’t subject to the same regulations as newer enterprises, which can also be problematic.

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The best way to ensure that your e-liquid is safe is to check the label to see what’s in it. We suggest that you shop reputable brands and stores that are knowledgeable about the safety of their products and are open and transparent with their customers.

The Vaping Trend Expansion

As non-smokers have discovered the joys of vaping, the trend has exploded. Vaping enthusiasts have found that vaping can be therapeutic. It helps them unwind, relax and think through problems. Taking the time to breathe deeply and methodically also has meditative and calming effects.

The taste of vape juice is also a major draw with popular flavors like “morning latte” and “chocolate cake” providing a blast of deliciousness with zero calories. With the obesity rate in the USA tipping the scales at over 35%, you could almost consider vaping to be a healthier alternative than reaching for the cookie jar!

Vape Juice Safety – What to Look for and What to Avoid

It’s not just the packaging that sets e-liquid companies apart. There can be vast differences in the components and source of the vape juice ingredients. Though most companies do a decent job at labeling their products, that information isn’t very helpful if you don’t know what you’re looking for. We’ll give you an overview of what you’ll see on the labels and give you suggestions on how to select the safest vape juice for your needs.

Cheaper isn’t Always Better

In your quest to save a buck or two, don’t forget about the health of your lungs. Though you might not experience an immediate adverse effect, poor-quality materials can do damage over time. However, pricing isn’t always an indicator of quality. There are still expensive e-liquids that don’t have your health and safety in mind. As a general rule, we recommend choosing brands that have taken extra care in their manufacturing process. This includes using glass bottles and proprietary ingredient blends. These are two strong hints that you’re dealing with a company that cares about the quality of their product.

Only Buy Diacetyl-free E-Juice

Diacetyl is a chemical that’s used in foods like popcorn to give it a distinct butter flavor a rich texture. It also mimics other flavors other than butter, making it a popular artificial ingredient. The reason to avoid this in your vape juice is that it’s been linked to lung disease in both people and animals. The official diagnosis was dubbed “popcorn lung” because it was discovered to be prominent in workers at a popcorn factory.

Popcorn lung is slang for bronchiolitis obliterans or constrictive bronchiolitis. It happens when small airways within the lungs, called bronchioles, become scarred, inhibiting your lungs’ function. The initial symptoms range from a dry cough to wheezing and shortness of breath. Sufferers often report feeling exhausted due to lack of oxygen. The symptoms increase in severity, peaking over the course of months. The disease is not curable or reversible. A patient’s only options are to stop its progression or undergo a lung transplant.

Safe e-liquids don’t have diacetyl, so look for brands that don’t contain this chemical.

Avoid These Ingredients, Too!

In addition to staying away from diacetyl (also referred to as DA), we also suggest avoiding the following:

Acetoin: It has a similar structural formulation to DA. Once upon a time, it was considered a safe alternative, but new research has found that it converts to diacetyl, making it just as dangerous. If you’re buying a reputable product made from a master in the e-liquid kitchen, then you’ll find that these additives are unnecessary.

It has a similar structural formulation to DA. Once upon a time, it was considered a safe alternative, but new research has found that it converts to diacetyl, making it just as dangerous. If you’re buying a reputable product made from a master in the e-liquid kitchen, then you’ll find that these additives are unnecessary. Acetyl Propionyl: This chemical is also used as an alternative to diacetyl. We recommend looking for brands that promise to be 100% acetyl propionyl-free.

Check Your Labels

Flavored vape juice can contain all sorts of nasty ingredients. To make sure you’re not breathing in a bunch of junk, look for claims like food grade and natural to ensure you’re consuming the safest ingredients possible.

Determine Your Preferred Nicotine Content

If you’re trying to wean yourself away from smoking then, choose an e-juice that has nicotine. Many brands have trace amounts present. However, if you’re not a cigarette smoker and you vape for pleasure, you may wish to abstain from larger amounts of nicotine. E-liquids are available in a variety of nicotine strengths, ranging from 0mg to 36mgs, so there are plenty to choose from. It all depends on whether you want no nicotine, a modest amount, or an experience that more closely resembles tobacco smoking.

VG vs. PG

If you check the label on a box of e-liquid, you’ll likely see the letters VG and PG listed with a corresponding percentage that adds up to 100. VG and PG are short for vegetable glycerin and propylene glycerin, respectively.

Here’s some more info about each:

VG (Vegetable Glycerin) – A liquid plant extract, usually from soy, coconut or palm. It’s a clear, viscous liquid that is typically flavorless, though it sometimes can be sweet. Other than an e-juice ingredient, it’s also used in food and cosmetics.

PG (Propylene Glycerin) – A liquid derived from propylene glycol. Though also considered safe by the FDA, it tends to have other applications, such as solvents and preservatives.

Though both of these ingredients are deemed safe by the FDA, vegetable glycerin believed to be safer than propylene glycerin. The primary reason is that some people may have an allergic reaction to PG. The allergy symptoms could be anything from skin irritation or rash to minor throat inflammation. Though not considered serious, these reactions could be uncomfortable and inconvenient.



Most juices contain both, so if you’re looking for a healthier vaping option, select brands that have a higher ratio of VG. The intensity of the flavor might not be quite as a strong, but as a tradeoff, you’ll get more vapor and reduce your risk of an allergic reaction.

Look for Safety Features

Because the bottles are artfully designed and have enticing flavors written on them, they can be a huge attraction for curious children. We recommend looking for vape liquids that have child-resistant caps (CRCs) to help ensure that vape juice stays out of the hands of minors.

Why Cloudride is a Safer Option

As e-liquids flood the market and more companies introduce their offerings, it can be tough to distinguish the reputable operations from the fly-by-night charlatans. You can trust the products from Cloudride because we control the manufacturing process from top to bottom, doing everything in our cGMP-compliant facility in the US.

We also exclusively use only USA-sourced ingredients. Further, our experienced operations team ensures the utmost level of quality control that exceeds FDA standards.

Putting it in Perspective

The concept of a safe e-liquid has been under attack for several years now. We applaud the FDA for taking a strong stance and protecting consumers. At Cloudride, we’re committed to producing the safest and highest quality product, regardless of what the law tells us to do. We take an active role in protecting our customers and urge other brands to follow suit.

As the vape haters continue to try to scare customers out of vaping, we think it’s important to add some perspective to the issue.

Consider the following statistics:

from the World Health Organization

Tobacco kills 7 million people per year. Six million of those people are tobacco users, nearly 1 million are innocent bystanders who were subjected to second-hand smoke.

Currently, 16 million Americans have a smoking-related disease.

The United Kingdom’s Department of Health reports that e-liquid is 95% less harmful than tobacco.

At the date of this publication, there have been no cases of popcorn lung reported among e-cigarette users.

No long-term negative health effects have yet to be identified. Studies are currently being done, but so far, they have failed to find any long-term hazardous effects.

No deaths have ever attributed to e-liquid. Not a single one.

Conclusion

Vaping is considered safe for both smokers and non-smokers alike. When you think of it as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, vaping comes with tremendous advantages. You get the ritualistic and relaxing habit of smoking without the chemical additives and dangerous tar associated with traditional cigarettes.

As with any product on the market, especially a consumable one, it’s important to arm yourself with the facts. Check the label of anything you ingest or inhale, and take a look at the brand’s website before purchasing to ensure that their mission, quality control, and ingredients match your values.