Do YOU know where your e-cigarette has been? Shocking Video Of Workers Testing Elf Bars At A Counterfeit Factory And Fingering Mouthpieces Without Gloves Reveals The Dark World Of Counterfeit Vapes
A video of factory workers in China testing electronic cigarettes by puffing on them exposes the disgusting dangers of counterfeit vapes.
A clip from last year — which has gone viral in recent months — shows men “testing” dozens of disposable ELFBARS before sealing and packaging them.
ELFBAR, based in Shenzhen, told DailyMail.com that the factory in the video “does not belong to Elf Bar and is in no way affiliated with ELFBAR.”
Another leaked video from Pairyosi Vape – a manufacturer of disposable vape pens in China – shows workers fingering mouthpieces without gloves.
Other photos taken in these fake factories show filthy sinks and toilets and cigarette butts scattered on the surfaces close to the fumes.
The footage comes as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) struggles to get a handle on unauthorized fruity vapes pouring in from China.
A video of factory workers testing ELFBAR electronic cigarettes is a disgusting reminder that you never know where your fumes are coming from
“ELFBAR is proud to offer quality products to our users around the world,” an ELFBAR spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
“However, there are some unscrupulous manufacturers who produce and market counterfeit e-cigarettes for their own profit, endangering the reputation of the industry and the safety of the user.
“To further address the issue, first, ELFBAR has long been fighting illegal vaping, with an intelligence file to detect counterfeit products, which is updated weekly.
“Secondly, using unique security codes, users can verify the authenticity of the product on our official website worldwide.”
The spokesperson also said that the cloning factor was discontinued shortly after ELFBAR’s attorney sent a letter to the manufacturer.
Health authorities have warned against flavored disposable vapes, which are especially popular with children.
In June, the FDA called on 180 US stores to stop selling ELFBARS, which have been linked to health problems such as lung and heart damage.
A study published earlier this year suggested that banning fruity and menthol vapes could reduce teen e-cigarette use by as much as 70 percent.
These bans can contribute to a massive influx of illegal products and factories.
The 2022 video led ElfBar to share images and footage of how it runs official factories in southeast China’s Shenzhen city
ElfBar acknowledged the clip and stated it is a clone factory – there are many in China marketing counterfeit products
Images from ELFBAR clone factories show facilities covered in dirt and cigarette residue
ELFBAR was recently sued in the US for trademark infringement and is now known as EBDESIGN in America.
In November, Victor Xiao, the CEO of ELFBAR, said: “Consumers would be shocked to see the conditions under which these products are made, and rightly so.
“The criminals behind these counterfeit products don’t care about product safety or consumer health, and they do everything they can to maximize their profits.”
“To be honest, the conditions in these factories are absolutely appalling where workers man production lines in filthy conditions with no regard for hygiene whatsoever.”
He added: “Retailers are exposing themselves to significant risk by handling these products and should avoid them at all costs.
“Because these products have not undergone safety checks or official testing, there is no way of knowing what health risks they pose and we fear they could be extremely dangerous.”
Images from ELFBAR clone factories show facilities covered in dirt and cigarette residue.
The 2022 video led ELFBAR to share images and footage of how it runs official factories in the city of Shenzhen in southeastern China.
The clip shows a white facility with workers donning white protective clothing and gloves.
And the fumes are tested using smoke extractors – not human mouths.
The newly assembled ElfBars are placed in a suction device that pulls on them for about a second to ensure they are working correctly.
People have been sharing stories online about unknowingly buying counterfeit Elf Bars.
A TikTok user posted an image of the counterfeit and real e-cigarette that look almost identical.
“So a customer came in this morning, she said the last ELFBAR she bought was from a fake gas station,” the user posted.
“She brought it in and said I could use it as a sample for the store. If you pay close attention to the print on the BC5000 you will see a difference in font and bold with a normal one.
People have been sharing stories online about unknowingly buying counterfeit ElfBars. A TikTok user posted an image of the counterfeit and real e-cigarette that look almost identical – the real brand is at the bottom
The color pattern doesn’t match either. The real one is the one on the bottom.
“The fake ELFBARS have weak or dangerous batteries that can cause them to explode, and the liquids are not FDA approved.”
There are ways to spot a counterfeit in the wild.
“Look for signs of counterfeit products, such as significantly lower than the retail price, poorly designed packaging, and misspellings or inconsistencies on the packaging,” shared Aroma Vape, an electronic cigarette retailer.
“Be wary of any product that seems too good to be true.”
ELBAR states on its website that it launched an anti-counterfeiting campaign in June 2021 in an effort to track down and shut down clone factories.
“The criminals behind these counterfeit products don’t care about product safety or the safety of consumers, and they do everything they can to maximize their profits,” ELFBAR shared in a statement.
“To be honest, the conditions in these factories are appalling, with workers working in filthy conditions with no regard for hygiene whatsoever.
“We would not stand by and watch as counterfeiting spreads, tarnishes the reputation of established manufacturers and significantly compromises consumer safety.
“We are cracking down on the illicit vape market and building an intelligence file on counterfeit products as the counterfeiters get smarter and more efficient.”
There are clues to finding a fake ELFBAR, such as the authentic vape with a single EAN barcode printed on the side of the box next to the anti-counterfeiting holographic sticker.
Pairyosi Vape’s video was posted to YouTube by Ryan Horace last month.
In the footage, viewers are introduced to the computer design of the vape label and packaging before the bulk wiring is constructed and the electrical tests run.
A production line is then shown assembling the products and inserting them into their casings before a worker connects the nozzle to the top.
Another leaked video from Pairyosi Vape – a manufacturer of disposable vape pens in China – shows workers attaching the mouthpieces to cartridges without gloves
On Pairyosi Vape’s website, the company declares itself “one of the leading manufacturers of electronic cigarettes in the world, located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China”
At this point, people are reeling in discomfort, leading many to comment on the lack of hygiene practices during the process.
One appalled user, @diverse_nugget9707, wrote, “That’s annoying, no gloves on when you put on the top you breathe through – no thanks, stay away from all the fumes.”
Other users concerned about the environment quickly took notice and pointed out the harmful amount of plastic used to make the vaporizers.
A concerned user @choysum9030 asked, “Do these all end up in the landfill?”
Another, @mattnorman4007, wrote: ‘That’s all going in the bin.’
User @0ate5y said, “It’s a bit of a waste considering what goes in, battery etc. Just throw it away.”
On Pairyosi Vape’s website, the company declares itself “one of the leading manufacturers of electronic cigarettes in the world, located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.”
With regard to the ‘strict quality control’, the manufacturer can boast of various international certifications, such as European (RoHS, CE) and American (UL, FCC) certifications to assure its customers of clean and controlled production environments.