The HSE National Environmental Health Service has issued an urgent public safety alert after discovering six e-cigarette products falsely labelled as “no nicotine” that actually contain dangerous concentrations of the addictive substance.
State Laboratory analysis revealed the products contain nicotine levels between 18.8 mg/ml and over 30 mg/ml, despite being marketed as nicotine-free alternatives. The affected products include three McKesse MK Bar 7000 flavours (Blueberry, Blackcurrant Mango, and Blueberry Pear) and three Bang Box 18000 Puffs varieties (Watermelon Ice, Strawberry Watermelon, and Blueberry Ice).
Margaret Ruddy, Principal Environmental Health Officer with the HSE, said:
“We are continuing to identify non-compliant products on the Irish market. These six most recent alerts are for products labelled as containing ‘no nicotine’, but following laboratory analysis by the State Laboratory we found that they have concentrations as high as 30.0 mg/ml.”
The discovery forms part of the HSE’s ongoing market surveillance programme, which regularly tests e-cigarette products sold across Ireland. Ruddy warned that the service would continue to use its full legal powers to protect public health, including product seizure, destruction and prosecutions.
Consumers who have purchased any of the listed products should immediately stop using them and return them to their place of purchase. Anyone experiencing ill effects after using these products is advised to contact their GP and notify the HSE at [email protected].
Margaret Ruddy continued:
“Retailers should be checking both the products themselves and their suppliers’ details before selling them on to consumers. Otherwise, they may not only be putting the consumer at risk, they may be breaking the law and making it more difficult to trace and seek the recall and withdrawal of dangerous batches of such products.”
Retailers must immediately remove these products from sale and display recall notices prominently in their premises and online platforms. They must also contact the HSE with full product and traceability details.
The HSE has contacted known distributors and importers of e-cigarettes to alert them to the issue and will follow up as required. Advice leaflets for retailers and importers outlining their legal obligations are available on the HSE website.
As Ireland’s Market Surveillance Authority for electronic cigarettes, the HSE enforces the EU Tobacco Products Directive through regular inspections and sampling of products sold on the Irish market. More information about these European Safety Alerts can be found on the HSE enforcement website and the European Safety Gate portal.