Negative article on AOL homepage today 9/16

[cypresss]

I read these reports as often as they are published. This has to be one of the worst. Half-truths and other flat-out misrepresentations. It used almost every cliche and wrongheaded argument that we've all seen over the past year. "Oh no! They're making flavors like cookie dough!" Maybe no one has told them yet, but adults like cookie dough. An absolute total hatchet job in every sense.

 

[frisco]

I certainly hope no one sold them to 8th graders. I do think there should be an age restriction. Maybe if there had been it would not have been so easy for me to start smoking when I was 14. As for the rest of the article it seems to be more of the same. They just keep repeating the same bull. Why don't people get it? We live in a sanctimonious world with a lot of busybodies!

 

[Vocalek]

I think this should read Some of their flavors intended to be used in food do contain adacetyl. Right?

Right. They make flavors for food, and some of the flavors do contain adacetyl. There is, as far as I know, little to no health dangers from eating adacetyl in small quantities. The health hazard was reported by workers in a popcorn factory who were exposed to larger quantities of adacetyl in the air. What is unclear is whether any e-juice manufacturer uses those particular flavors in their product, and if so, what percent of the batch is flavoring.

 

[shanagan]

The thought crossed my mind, what if he did not witness the woman in the photo making this sale to 8th graders (and I have to wonder whether the author witnessed this in person or whether the story is aprocryphal.) Did he actually witness the woman whose picture is featured selling to these 8th graders? If he did not, it casts some very bad unfounded aspersions on her character.

My comment was the my BS meter was going off - two unsupervised 8th graders - that's 13yo's - take the train from PA to DC to buy ecigs because they're cheaper there? Uh, how much were those tickets? I just smell total BS & utter fabrication all the way.

 

[FyreDragon]

Now there's a second part to this. It can be found here.

(disgusted sigh)

Bad journalism at it's finest!

 

[shanagan]

ARGH. Guess I'll go hit my "phony cigarette" and smile now.

 

[skylar]

Yikes, wouldn't it be nice if they interviewed about 100 people from here with our take on our "phony cigarette." Conflict sells news, people want to read about it. Maybe we could lock 20 non smokers in one of the old glass rooms at some airports they use to put us in when we smoked, add 20 smokers and lock the door for an hour. Then put the same non smokers in an identical room with 20 vapors.

If there is any truth to the story you would have to be a ..... to sell and e cig to teenagers. I also have to wonder, where are their parents.

 

[maureengill]

I'd ask the girls why they would spend $150 on a train ride (each) to go to new york and spend $20 on an e-cig. Sounds like hogwash to me.

*(it was $75 each way last time I took a train from Philly to New York, and that was almost 10 years ago so I'm sure it's more now)*

 

[kristin]

I still say that a knowledgeable, unbiased source appearing on multiple news outlets is what we need. Rush fits that description, but we need more press exposure to the truth about Ecigs. I'd welcome unbiased testing, unlike what the FDA did in their hurried approach to deal with the shipments they seized at the entry point into the U.S.

The comment about diacetyl in butter flavored juices is valid, if it's true. Who knows what Lorann butter flavor has in it? I'm vaping a sample bottle of Ecopure English Toffee flavored juice right now that I'm considering for a larger future order. There's a buttered toffee taste in there and I'd like to know that it is diacetyl free.

This is a totally valid concern. I was actually looking into this yesterday due to a completely different post and went to the FlavourArt website. Their flavors DO contain diacetyl -- in minute amounts. See Diacetyl - Flavourart

Update: To say, I still believe the article was completely one-sided, that close to zero research was done in order to represent the benefits of e-cigarettes, etc. Apparently, depending on a source who changes their name at random is the best he could do. Everyone here knows it takes very little digging to find the studies that this "source" never got back to him with.

There has been much discussion about diacetyl on ECF, you can probably find them in a search. It's one reason why you don't see a lot of popcorn or butter-flavored eliquids sold. However, from what I remember of the discussions, the illnesses occurring from diacetyl in popcorn factories was direct, longterm exposure to huge amounts of straight flavoring. For this article to focus on a flavor that is rarely or never used by e-cigarette liquid merchants was ridiculous scaremongering at its best. They picked the one flavoring that COULD be dangerous, without any proof that it is used in any liquids and again ignored the ratio of how much would actually even be used in it - same as the diethylene glycol ploy.

 

[kristin]

I hope no one here was the commentor who said that "CASAA is alive, but barely." If so, you need to read our newsletter at CASAA | The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association!!

While we could use more donations and member participation, we are actually growing and doing extremely well, considering the circumstances, thank you very much!

 

[maxx]

If the girls actually exist...it is certain they weren't at that location just to buy e-cigs, which makes the entire story suspect. The article is trash....but we are seeing more of this sort of thing. Perhaps we need to consider an enemies list conisting of names (and all other useful information) of those people who are on a personal crusade against e-cigs...and make it public. If someone is doing an unwarranted hatchet job on e-cigs, but doing glory pieces on big pharma, we need to start connecting the dots. Or if they are just an anti-smoke busy-body migrating to greener pastures to stay in the limelight...that also should be noted. Posting in comments sections is good...but most readers never get that far. News sites always invite comments, but ever notice they make you jump through hoops to see them? You have to scroll the whole page...then have to click a link and wait...and you hardly ever get all the comments on one page. It's a trick...news sites really would rather you not read negative comments.

Anyway....just a thought to combat individuals (as opposed to groups like FDA, ALA, ACS, etc) who have seemingly gone out of their way to be posterior orifices...

 

[the vaporizer]

I'm afraid my comment was rather long, but it took the author to task for reporting propaganda and unfounded fears as if they were facts. The important points were much more evident before AOL removed my paragraph breaks.

BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE THAT FDA!!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT...If i had known all of that i would have said it...way to go vocalek...we need more like you to light up the darkness! now hopefully people read your response!!!!!

 

[StormFinch]

I'd ask the girls why they would spend $150 on a train ride (each) to go to new york and spend $20 on an e-cig. Sounds like hogwash to me.

*(it was $75 each way last time I took a train from Philly to New York, and that was almost 10 years ago so I'm sure it's more now)*

THANK you!! I knew I smelled something, and I was positive that I had checked my shoes after walking the dogs this morning.

 

[maureengill]

The cheapest coach ticket is $47 each way....i checked amtrak.com.

THANK you!! I knew I smelled something, and I was positive that I had checked my shoes after walking the dogs this morning.

 

[julianka]

This has got to be the worst one I've ever seen. Short term side effects; racing pulse, mouth ulcers? Where the hell did THAT come from?!

 

[maxx]

Yeah....I find those side effects quoted from the FDA to be of odd origin as well, julianka....

I found the email address of the FDA spokesperson quoted there: siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov Siobhan DeLancey

Since the FDA is making a big deal about e-cig makers and vendors making unsubstantiated claims...I am going to email him/her and ask for the study or report the FDA has, that proves those side effects. And if they don't have a report/study...then who is making unsubstantiated claims?

That email address is from an article over a year old....so if anyone else wants to contact this person...I can't guarantee it works yet.

 

[Our House]

This has got to be the worst one I've ever seen. Short term side effects; racing pulse, mouth ulcers? Where the hell did THAT come from?!

It's legit...but it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with ecigs. All the "side effects" touted by the FDA (and there are 8 of them total) are either results of quitting smoking cold turkey or of nicotine use in general. More shenanigans.

 

[jj2]

I read it earlier but the second page didn't load so I didn't know you could leave a comment.
Glad to see that not all had the problem and left a comment.

 

[maxx]

Email I sent to the FDA spokesperson:

Dear Siobhan DeLancey,

You were recently quoted in an AOL News article by Andrew Schneider saying, "FDA is aware of reports of short-term side effects from the use of electronic cigarettes, including racing pulse, dizziness, slurred speech, mouth ulcers, heartburn, coughing, ........ and sore throat," in response to inquiries on E-cigarette safety.

Article appears here:

Your Kids Buy E-Cigs; Do You Know What's in Them?

I am inquiring as to what studies the FDA has that show these side effects and what criteria was used to determine that the cause was e-cigarette use and not some other source. The electronic cigarette industry has been accused, by the FDA, of making unsubstantiated claims about the product. Yet, I am unaware of any substantiating FDA study to warrant the side effect claim you make. Can you direct me to a report on such a study if it exists? And if the reports of side effects are simply anecdotal, should the FDA be spreading the anecdotes without first studying them for accuracy?

Thank you,
*My name*

 

[maxx]

Hey...I got a reply already. Wants to know what media outlet I work for...

Obviously I will tell him I am not a media writer....but think I could say I was writing for posting at ECF? Any ECF admins around to give me a red or green light on this?