The e-cigarette industry, just like many others, have not been spared from imitators looking to make a quick buck.
Just as the adoption and acceptance of e-cigarettes have increased, so have the number of people making fake e-cigarette products.
These counterfeit products are not only illegal but also carry serious health risks for former smokers who have turned to vaping to quit smoking.
However, counterfeit vape pods contain harmful substances like toluene, which causes central nervous system depression and arrhythmias to persons acutely exposed, at levels that greatly exceed safe standards.
Many counterfeit e-cigarettes often use recycled batteries repurposed from other electronics to make these fake devices.
As they are hidden from consumers’ view, many people are unaware of the danger these fake batteries pose. As the batteries are made out of a lithium-ion cell, worn batteries or those that are poorly made pose an electrical and fire hazard as they are not quality checked nor tested.
Because of this, it is recommended to buy only from official stores and authorized resellers. To double check its authenticity, look for the verification code.
Most e-cigarette manufacturers include verification codes in the packaging which users could then verify on the manufacturer’s website to validate their purchase. Another way to verify the authenticity of the product is to take a quick puff and analyze the taste and resistance during inhalation. Fake flavor pods, generally, do not taste good and have minimal resistance.
E-cigarette users can rest easy in the fact that most legitimate vape companies have been rolling out programs and coordinating with local organizations to crack down on these counterfeit product manufacturers, thus ensuring that each vape user not only gets quality-made products but the safety that they most certainly deserve.
The other half half of the responsibility also lies with consumers. The best way for e-cigarette consumers to protect themselves is to always insist on genuine products. Price discounts may be momentarily attractive, but the risks and harm they pose often far outweigh any savings.
