Duke scientists find untested sweetener in vapes

By Emily Smith

A secret ingredient up to 13,000 times sweeter has been found in disposable vapes, new research has found.

The artificial sweetener neotame, commonly used in chewing gum, ice cream, and cakes, was found in all 11 disposable vape brands tested in a new study published in the medical journal JAMA.

Brands included Elf Bar and Juul, and the sweetener was also present in products labelled zero nicotine.

Neotame, developed in 2002 as a substitute for aspartame, is 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar and is known for its flavour-enhancing properties.

While approved for use in food, it has not been tested for safety when inhaled.

More from this section

+5

Researchers discover space travel accelerates aging

Self-Medicating With Weed Might Make Things Worse

Music Soothes Savage Motion Sickness, Experiment Shows

The US-based study tested 73 vape brands in total, and neotame was found in 57, including both disposable and non-disposable types.

Researchers warned that the presence of neotame may be driving the popularity of these products among children and teenagers, who are especially drawn to sweet flavors.

“We think that the presence of neotame is really a determining factor in the attractiveness and preference for these products,” said Sven Jordt, study author and associate professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University School of Medicine.

He added: “We don’t know how safe they are if you inhale them into your lungs.”

This comes after a ban on single-use vapes came into place across the UK in a bid to protect children's health and the environment.

Under the ban, it is now illegal to sell the disposable vapes in shops or online and anyone doing so will be faced with a £200 fine at first instance from the council Trading Standards.