Sticky Notes regarding PG/VG confusing me, please help.

[swhite]

Let me just start by saying I have been vaping for almost 2 years and I am considering trying my hand at DIY but have only been reading this forum so far to learn about it. Upon reading two of the sticky notes I was left even more confused than before so I hope some of you can help me understand this better. Here are the stickies I am referring to:

Purity of PG, VG and PEG-The short version--this sticky states the following:
-Only the pharma grade should be used for inhalation.
-due to lack of regulation vendors could be using either pharma grade or food grade.
-It is possible that a USP product can be either food grade or pharma grade.
-The USP designation only refers to a general production regime and does not cover the exact contaminants as long as the
minimum standard is met.

PG/VG Labeling and Purity: Please Read--this sticky states the following:
-USP grade is pharmaceutical grade given that it adheres to the FDA labeling standards.

I am now left wondering if the liquids I have been using all this time are pharma grade or food grade. I am wondering if what DIY juice makers are using is pharma grade or food grade. I realize that vaping has been thousands of times better for me than smoking cigs but I would just like to know what exactly is being used so I can decide if I want to take the risk of using it or not. I know that there are no definitive studies out there that could probably answer my questions and that many vendors do not state what they are using but I would appreciate your opinions on this and any helpful information you might have. This probably will not stop me from vaping or learning to DIY, which is my current goal, but it could make me decide to continue to decrease my nic level (gone from 24mg to 6mg since I started vaping) and to taper off, and eventually quit, vaping all together. I look forward to hearing from you guys on this.

 

[dannyv45]

What I do is buy my DYI supplies from known reputable venders in the USA. When I buy my PG/VG/NIC I make sure it's for human consumption and USP is displayed on the label. In the USA if it's graded USP it is pharma grade. It's illegal to sell non pharma grade and mark it or advertize it as USP. Now it doesn't mean venders will adhere strictly to the law and this is why you must shop at reputable venders with proven track records. If you are unsure of the product call the vender and ask. If you don't like what you here don't buy.

Now buying premade juice from venders is another story and the main reason I went to DYI. You just don't know what ingredients your getting in the mix, how it's made or the sanatary conditions in which it is made.

 

[HumphreyBogart11490]

rtsvapes.com

thats all i have to say

 

[swhite]

Thanks for the replies. And thanks, Danny, for clearing that up. It is just that reading sticky notes with conflicting information only adds to the confusion a new person has. You have given me even more reason to start making my own juices. I will keep on reading and learning until I feel ready to jump into the brave new world of DIY!

 

[dannyv45]

Thanks for the replies. And thanks, Danny, for clearing that up. It is just that reading sticky notes with conflicting information only adds to the confusion a new person has. You have given me even more reason to start making my own juices. I will keep on reading and learning until I feel ready to jump into the brave new world of DIY!

Not sure if you saw my blogs yet but the following information will help you.

Read my blogs before getting started

E-Cigarette Forum - dannyv45 - Blogs

then read hoosier's blogs.

E-Cigarette Forum - Hoosier - Blogs

 

[Pilot]

Is there anyway anyone can bottom line us new folks? Does USP mean the nice liquid is pharmaceutical or food grade? I have read the blogs but didnt memorize them. I just want to know what is safe to vape?

 

[Crunktanium]

Just buy this stuff and you will be fine.

Propylene Glycol 1 Quart: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
Amazon.com: Glycerin Vegetable Kosher USP - 1 Quart: Health & Personal Care

 

[Hoosier]

Is there anyway anyone can bottom line us new folks? Does USP mean the nice liquid is pharmaceutical or food grade?

Short answer is "yes".

Long answer:
Excluding reagent grades the list of purity from more to less is:::
USP (often referred to as pharma grade)
Food
Agricultural (sometimes called veterinarian or animal grade)
Industrial (sometimes called machine grade)

Now if a company makes USP they can label it as Food, Agricultural, and/or Industrial and still be fine, but it is still USP (pharma).

If a company makes Food they can label it as Agricultural and/or Industrial and still be fine, but a saying it is USP opens them up to civil and government liability judgements.

If a company makes Agricultural they can label it as Industrial too, but cannot label it as Food nor USP.

If a company makes Industrial, they cannot label it as anything that is more pure. In fact they usually say what types of lubricants, anti-corrosion, or stabilizers they put in it to make it better for the customer's specific machine(s).



Saying USP & Food Grade is kinda' like labeling a bottle of water with Sterilized Distilled and Drinking water. To most folks it's fairly obvious that water that has been distilled and sterilized is safe to drink. (I doubt it would taste good, but it's safe)

Sometimes the addition of the lower grades is part of a marketing thing and sometimes it is an insurance thing.

 

[MD_Boater]

THANK YOU, Hoosier.

Sometimes the addition of the lower grades is part of a marketing thing and sometimes it is an insurance thing.

THIS causes a lot of confusion around here. If someone is looking for "food grade", and all they see on the bottle is "USP", then they might not buy it when it is perfectly suitable for food use. And Kosher is okay to use, even if you are not Jewish...

 

[yzer]

Using Glycerin as an example...

In the USA..

-Pharmaceutical grade glycerin meets standards established by United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and National Formulary (NF). It may be labeled as Glycerin USP, Glycerin NF or Glycerin USP-NF. It may also be labeled USP Glycerin, NF Glycerin or USP-NF Glycerin. No other letters, numbers, words or symbols should appear between these names. The standards are are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

-Food grade glycerin should be labeled as FCC Glycerin and should meet the necessary requirements set forth in the FCC (Food Chemical Codex). The standards are are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Glycerin USP and FCC Glycerin meet different testing criteria. Basically, and as others have stated before USP may be used in place of FCC but FCC should not be substituted for USP.

FDA does not enforce any standards established as "Kosher", "Halal", or any other religious standards.