A new study from Duke University has revealed that many widely-used disposable e-cigarettes contain neotame—a highly potent artificial sweetener not regulated for inhalation—that may increase the appeal and potential addiction among youth and first-time users.
Neotame, a chemical compound up to 13,000 times sweeter than table sugar, was detected in all 55 disposable e-cigarette products tested by researchers. The devices, sold in the U.S. under brand names such as Elfbar, Geekbar, Mr. Fog, and Breeze, were found to contain neotame at concentrations nearly five times higher than those in a typical mint candy. Products using 6-methylnicotine, a synthetic analog of nicotine, had even higher levels of the sweetener.
“Adding such a powerful sweetener could increase the risk of addiction by making e-cigarettes more palatable to new and younger users,” said Dr. Eric-Sven Jordt, senior author of the study and associate professor in the departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke. “It also raises important toxicity concerns, especially since neotame is approved for consumption, but not for inhalation through vapor.”
The research, published June 2 in JAMA, underscores growing concerns around the contents of disposable e-cigarettes, which are not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny as FDA-authorized products. Co-lead author Dr. Sairam V. Jabba noted that unlike popular disposable brands, FDA-authorized products like Vuse, and older products like Juul, do not contain neotame.
“The inclusion of neotame may give newer disposable vapes a competitive marketing edge, particularly among youth who are drawn to sweet, candy-flavored products,” said Jabba, a senior research scientist in Duke’s Department of Anesthesiology.
The study also included contributions from Dr. Hanno C. Erythropel, an analytical chemist at Yale School of Medicine, along with researchers Remi A. Mellinghoff, Victor Garcia-Gallet, Peter Silinski, and Julie B. Zimmerman.
Despite its widespread presence, neotame is currently unregulated in inhaled products. Researchers are urging federal and state agencies to take swift action.
“The FDA must act to curb the sale of these unauthorized, sweetened disposable e-cigarettes that are readily available online and in local shops,” said Jordt. “Without intervention, recent progress in reducing youth vaping could be undermined.”
The study was funded by the Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (part of the NIH), and the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. The authors emphasized that the findings reflect their views and not those of the funding agencies.
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