I had a heated debate this week with a local vendor who makes his juice that he sells in his "lab" which is just his living room. I tried to explain to him that his living room is NOT a sterile lab....and that the possiblilties for contamination are rampant. Air born pathogens, dust, dirt etc can easily get into this juice and then be inhaled (vaped)
I further explained that the need to sterile work space with stainless steel counters, sterile containers etc are a MUST.
I find it rather disgusting, although not surprising, that so many "juice makers" are popping up everywhere making juice in their homes and selling to unwitting newbies and even experienced vapers alike. Now with all this talk of Diacetyl (see Suicide Bunny for example) being found in our juices....and no disclosure from these guys...it's alarming to say the least.
We all quite smoking because we didn't want to die...slowly and painfully. Without any type of regulation we are at the mercy of these juice makers and their word about their products.
I personally will only buy juice from trusted vendors with test results to show that their juices are clean. I also always ask to see their labs. Any vendor who refuses to show me their lab and test results are discarded immediately.
am I alone here?
After reading through so many posts and opinions here is my two
worth:
As far as DIY: This should mean exactly what it says; I mix my own juice, in a lab environment, however what I produce is strictly for my own personal use, period.
This is no different that any of us buying raw ingredients for our food, lets say. Now don't go bringing up the FDA and food standards, etc.. of course we have them. (regulations and standards for food)..
But it is not like it is in a restaurant, is it?
I was in a B&M Saturday morning in my town, and the people there were mixing up some juice like it was at a local coffee shop, or ice cream parlor; Bottles open, unlabeled, mix some of this with that, a bit more of this...TADA "smoke juice"....ah I don't think so!
I VERY RARELY buy mixed e-liquids, unless I know the source adheres to "clean lab standards", of which is all still the honor system currently.
I do feel that there has to be some standards if you will to make labs adhere to levels of cleanliness, and using safe ingredients, as after all we are consuming (vaping) these concoctions.
Just as one poster pointed out that where are many juice labs getting their nic base, and is it from the U.S. or overseas?
We need standards, we don't need more taxes and regulations that will only profit BP, BT, and the like.
Personally I could care less what anyone thinks about me being a DIY. I save a lot of money and having a degree in chemistry among others, I pretty much have a good idea of what I am doing.
I do not sell, or gift any of my e-liquids to anyone, so this is a personal freedom I have as an American I enjoy and feel I should not be threatened by big government and private corporate interests only trying to get rich off of my work!
I do not feel the same way regarding companies that produce anything for human consumption, be it eating, medicine, vaping, etc.
Where I was this weekend (at the B&M) many would not hesitate to buy their juices there, I would, why?
Simple; When you go out to eat the health department scores an establishment on various things regarding just about every aspect from preparing the food to who prepares it, and how long it has been in the refrigerator, etc.
We need the same standards in the vaping juice suppliers, and it can be done without getting big businesses into it, but it will take a concerted effort from suppliers to form these standards and to have everyone abide by them....
Not an easy task by any means....
Darned if do, darned if we don't....
Happy Monday!
