How Does Your Local Store Mix e-Juice?

[2ndfiddle]

At one of my two local stores, one of the workers does at least part of the mixing out in the sales area in front of the customers. No gloves, no mask, etc. That concerns me, as being a nurse, I'm always looking for infection-control measures and sanitary (sterile) facilities. As it is, a customer (or the employee doing the mixing) with a cold or flu or other respiratory illness could conceivably contaminate a batch of e-juice with their coughing. Also, I did not see the employee wash her hands before mixing up some juice for me.

Is this an accepted way of mixing e-juice in B&M stores? Should I be concerned?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[suspectK]

There are no regulations for liquid production. Just don't buy their liquid. Make your own, or use professionals.

 

[jkarlson]

Pretty standard for "House Juice". As said, there's no regulation, so people don't spend the money. The good companies that make juice do take the pre-cautions...or at least they should. I know for my company(not sure if this is a Cali thing) the local government inspectors came to my lab and inspected everything and made me make a small batch to make sure I measured correctly, used safety, etc.

 

[Ref Minor]

This is how those low quality dreadful Chinese juices get made.

Chinese E-liquid Manufacturing Facilities - YouTube

 

[StormFinch]

I'm certainly not against infection control. I'm married to an old scrub/central sterile tech for heaven's sake, knocking sterile practices would be madness. I thought I'd mention however that PG, and to a lesser extent VG and nicotine, are antimicrobials. Granted, I would appreciate it if someone mixing my juice washed their hands, wore gloves and didn't sneeze on my bottles, but I have more faith that house juice is untainted than I do restaurant food. It's a mute point in my case though since I mix my own juice and thus am responsible for my own sanitary practices.

 

[Maggiemw]

This is how those low quality dreadful Chinese juices get made.

Chinese E-liquid Manufacturing Facilities - YouTube

Good one, Ref. You beat me to it.

 

[DC2]

I often wonder if it is even possible to "contaminate" e-liquid that contains propylene glycol.
That stuff kills bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other assorted microbes.

 

[AttyPops]

Ever eat out?

I know there are guidelines for food prep. They should use those at minimum when mixing juice.

OTOH, I've not seen a waitress ever deliver my food with a mask and gloves on....

 

[Ref Minor]

I often wonder if it is even possible to "contaminate" e-liquid that contains propylene glycol.
That stuff kills bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other assorted microbes.

The effect is only mild, it's hardly in the same league as antibiotics

 

[Ref Minor]

Ever eat out?

I know there are guidelines for food prep. They should use those at minimum when mixing juice.

OTOH, I've not seen a waitress ever deliver my food with a mask and gloves on....

Saliva and stomach acid help with that, remember you are inhaling these into your lungs. However even a dodgily mixed juice is likely to be better for you than smoking.

 

[AttyPops]

Yeah, but you're picking at nits.

Besides, how sterile is all the stuff you breathe everyday? Did you and the waitress exchange air space while she talked to you? Etc.

I basically agree with the OP, BTW. I think they should at least wash hands and maybe even use hair nets while mixing up batches of juice. But hey, I wouldn't get too overly worried about it.

 

[Visus]

yell quietly at her next time, "I prefer you wash your hands please"

 

[Visus]

More:

I prefer you use gloves for your safety and mine if nicotine base

bi*&^ you trippin no glove no love

if I get sick from this juice ill kik your .... wash your hands and use gloves please

hey why dont you have on gloves

i read your really should have on gloves and i prefer that

call them and let them know your feelings about it

posting here was great to.

 

[tj99959]

Don't worry, after deeming regulations get here the DEA will be bustin' all these (cough-cough) illegal juice labs

 

[ennagizer]

Are there US liquid manufacturers that produce their liquid in clean facilities while wearing gloves, hairnets, etc. and adhere to quality control standards they set for themselves?

I was recently disappointed by a local B&M. A very strong aroma hit me in the nose as soon as I opened the front door. I was there about 10 minutes, but had the smell on me the rest of the day. I'm thinking the aroma was from mixing batches of juice in the store. I purchased a couple of liquids and one turned out to be off color, off scent and had a weird flavor to it. Whatever the reason for this bad batch of liquid, in my opinion it all comes down to quality control. I gave them one more shot though. I went back a couple weeks later and purchased two other liquids. Again, one is off color, has a weird scent and doesn't taste very good. I went back to let them know and the employees were very defensive saying that's the way the liquid has always been & it must be my wick. Uhh, nope. Sadly, now I can't bring myself to go back. To me this is a screaming lack of quality control and there's no excuse for it.

 

[Dreaswi]

Are there US liquid manufacturers that produce their liquid in clean facilities while wearing gloves, hairnets, etc. and adhere to quality control standards they set for themselves?

I was recently disappointed by a local B&M. A very strong aroma hit me in the nose as soon as I opened the front door. I was there about 10 minutes, but had the smell on me the rest of the day. I'm thinking the aroma was from mixing batches of juice in the store. I purchased a couple of liquids and one turned out to be off color, off scent and had a weird flavor to it. Whatever the reason for this bad batch of liquid, in my opinion it all comes down to quality control. I gave them one more shot though. I went back a couple weeks later and purchased two other liquids. Again, one is off color, has a weird scent and doesn't taste very good. I went back to let them know and the employees were very defensive saying that's the way the liquid has always been & it must be my wick. Uhh, nope. Sadly, now I can't bring myself to go back. To me this is a screaming lack of quality control and there's no excuse for it.

It probably needed to steep as it was just mixed.

It only takes one person to start a revolution.

 

[zoiDman]

...

Is this an accepted way of mixing e-juice in B&M stores? Should I be concerned?

...

It Isn't an acceptable method of Mixing and Bottling e-Liquids to me. But until the Regulation come, I would say that it is More the Norm verses the Exception.

Should you be Concerned? I dunno? I don't know Exactly what Can and Can Not Survive in a Typical e-Liquid?

That is part of the sometimes Unseen Ramifications of a Health & Safety / Food Regulation. Determining what are considered "Safe" handling Practices for a Consumable Product.

 

[ennagizer]

It probably needed to steep as it was just mixed.

Nah, I don't think so. These juices are foul. I've purchased the liquids before, had them sitting around for weeks and know what to expect from them. The first bad bottle I still have and after 4 weeks it's just as foul as when I bought it. You know when something is off. I'd say the liquids are either mislabeled, wrong recipe, different recipe/ingredients or some other contamination.

 

[BlueMoods]

My local shop mixes the nic+PG/VG base into the pre measured flavorings form bottles similar to those used for oil in cooking or, juices in a bar. No gloves, masks or anything and, for me that's fine. First the employee mixing never touches the liquid or the capping area of the bottle I'm buying second, though hexylene glycol is better, propylene glycol dose have decent anti bacterial and anti fungal properties.

Sometimes, IMHO, people go overboard with the whole sanitation thing. I think we are preventing ourselves form developing resistance or immunity to some things and, creating antibiotic and anti bacterial resistant strains of things by being too sanitary. I grew up as a farm kid, out tending or playing with animals, then grab lunch and never wash up, just eat my sandwich dirty hands and all. I rarely get sick, haven't had more than the flu in years, had bronchitis once in my early 20's and, pneumonia at 28. That's it my entire life. I don't catch the cold the grand kids have when they come over, rarely take the flu, even when most of my friends and family do and, are around me. I think it's because my world was never over sanitized and, my immune system is strong enough to handle those minor things and keep me from getting sick.

 

[zoiDman]

...

Sometimes, IMHO, people go overboard with the whole sanitation thing. ...

Do you think Legal Liability ever plays a Role in the way Consumable Products are Processed? Or in the Formation of Sanitation Regulations?