The federal government is taking a closer look at electronic cigarettes, which are billed by some as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products.
This week, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it had issued warning letters to five companies that distribute electronic cigarette products, in part because of concern about unsubstantiated claims about the products and poor manufacturing processes.
In addition to violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
“FDA invites electronic cigarette firms to work in cooperation with the agency toward the goal of assuring that electronic cigarettes sold in the United States are lawfully marketed,” said the FDA in its letter to the companies.
Electronic cigarettes use water vapor, flavorings and other products to deliver nicotine.Still, many healthcare professionals remain unconvinced as to how much safer these products are than their more traditional counterparts.
Recent research has even suggested that nicotine itself presents a cancer risk regardless of how it is consumed by an individual. Until recently, electronic cigarette companies have claimed that their products can be used to help smokers quit the habit, which hasn’t been proven.
Under the FDCA, electronic cigarette companies cannot make the claim that its product “treats or mitigates disease such as nicotine addiction” unless the safety and effectiveness of their product has been proven.
Also, some companies were cited in the warning letters for “failure to establish quality control and testing procedures required under the FDCA.”
When it comes to quitting smoking, the reasons are many. Those who do manage to kick the habit and stay healthy can expect to pay less in health insurance and life insurance premiums on average than those who continue to smoke.
