A video of factory workers in China testing e-cigarettes by inhaling them exposes the sickening dangers of counterfeit vapes.
A clip from last year, which has gone viral in recent months, shows men ‘trying on’ dozens of disposable ELFBARS before sealing and packaging them.
ELFBAR, which is based in Shenzhen, told DailyMail.com that the factory in the video “does not belong to Elf Bar and is not affiliated with ELFBAR in any way.”
Another leaked video from Pairyosi Vape, a manufacturer of disposable vaporizers in China, shows workers touching their mouthpieces without gloves.
Other photos taken inside these fake factories show dirty sinks and toilets and cigarette butts scattered on surfaces near the vaporizers.
The footage comes as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) struggles to control unauthorized fruity vapes arriving from China.
A video of factory workers trying out ELFBAR e-cigarettes is an ugly reminder that you never know where vapes come from.
“ELFBAR prides itself on providing quality products to our users around the world,” an ELFBAR spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
“However, some unscrupulous manufacturers are manufacturing and marketing counterfeit e-cigarettes for their own profit, which is jeopardizing the reputation of the industry and the safety of the user.
‘To further address the problem, firstly, ELFBAR has long been fighting against illegal vapers, with an intelligence dossier to track down fake products, updated weekly.
“Second, with the help of unique security codes, users can verify the authenticity of the product on our official website globally.”
The spokesperson also said that the cloning factor was shut down shortly after ELFBAR’s lawyer sent a letter to the manufacturer.
Health agencies have issued warnings against flavored disposable sprays, which have been especially popular with children.
In June, the FDA asked 180 stores in the US to stop selling ELFBARS, which have been linked to health problems including lung and heart damage.
A study published earlier this year suggested that banning fruit and menthol vapes could reduce teen e-cigarette use by up to 70 percent.
These bans could be contributing to a massive influx of illegal products and factories.
The 2022 video prompted ElfBar to share images and videos of how he runs official factories in the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
ElfBar recognized the clip and claimed that it is a clone factory; there are many in China who are selling counterfeit products.
Images of ELFBAR clone factories show facilities covered in dirt and cigarette remnants
ELFBAR was recently sued in the US for trademark infringement and is now known as EBDESIGN in the United States.
In November, Victor Xiao, chief executive of ELFBAR, said: ‘Consumers would be horrified to see the conditions in which these products are made, and rightly so.
‘The criminals behind these counterfeit products do not care about the safety of the product or the health of consumers, and they do everything they can to maximize their profits.’
“Frankly, the conditions in these factories are absolutely miserable, with workers running production lines in filthy conditions with absolutely no regard for hygiene.”
He added: ‘Retailers are exposing themselves to substantial risks when handling these products and should avoid them at all costs.
“Because these products have not undergone any official testing or safety control, there is no way of knowing what health risks they cause and our fear is that they could be extremely dangerous.”
Images of the ELFBAR clone factories show facilities covered in dirt and cigarette remnants.
The 2022 video prompted ELFBAR to share images and footage of how it runs official factories in the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
The clip shows a white facility with workers donning white gloves and protective gear.
And vaporizers are tested with smoke suction machines, not human mouths.
The newly assembled ElfBars are placed on a suction device that pulls on them for about a second to ensure they work properly.
People have shared stories online about buying fake Elf bars without knowing it.
A TikTok user posted an image of the counterfeit and real e-cigarette that looks almost identical.
“So a customer came in this morning, said the last ELFBAR he bought was from a gas station that was fake,” the user posted.
‘She brought it over and said I can use it as an example to keep in the store. If you pay close attention to the print on the BC5000, you can see a bold font and difference compared to a normal one.
People have shared stories online about unknowingly buying fake 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 it either. The real one is below.
“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 fake in the wild.
“Look for signs of counterfeit products, such as a price significantly below retail price, poorly designed packaging, and misspellings or inconsistencies in the packaging,” shared Aroma Vape, an e-cigarette seller.
‘Beware of any product that seems too good to be true.’
ELBAR claims on its website that it launched an anti-counterfeiting action in June 2021 in an attempt to find and shut down clone factories.
“The criminals behind these counterfeit products do not care about the safety of the product or the safety of consumers, and do everything they can to maximize their profits,” ELFBAR shared in a statement.
“Frankly, the conditions in these factories are miserable, with workers working in dirty conditions with no respect for hygiene.
‘We will not stand idly by as counterfeits proliferate, tarnishing the reputation of established manufacturers and seriously jeopardizing consumer safety.
“We are clamping down on the illegal vape market and building an intelligence dossier on fake products as counterfeiters get smarter and more efficient.”
There are clues to spotting a fake ELFBAR, such as the authentic vaporizer with a single EAN barcode printed on the side of the box next to the anti-counterfeit holographic label.
The Pairyosi Vape video was posted last month on YouTube by Ryan Horace.
In the images, viewers are presented with the computer-designed vape label and packaging before bulk wiring is built and electrical testing is performed.
A production line is then shown assembling the products and inserting them into their covers before a worker attaches the nozzle to the top.
Another leaked video from Pairyosi Vape, a manufacturer of disposable vaporizers in China, shows workers fitting the mouthpieces onto the cartridges without gloves.
On the Pairyosi Vape website, the company declares itself “one of the world’s leading e-cigarette manufacturers headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.”
This moment has people reeling in discomfort, leading many to comment on the lack of hygiene practices during the process.
One dismayed user, @diverse_nugget9707, wrote: “That’s disgusting, not wearing gloves when putting on the top you breathe through. No thanks, stay away from vaporizers.”
Other users who are concerned about the environment were quick to take notice and point out the harmful amount of plastic used to create the vaporizers.
A concerned user @choysum9030 asked: ‘Does all this end up in the landfill?’
Another, @mattnorman4007, wrote: ‘That’s all going to be in the bin bro.’
User @0ate5y said: “It’s a waste when you consider what’s inside, the battery, etc. Just go with it.”
On the Pairyosi Vape website, the company declares itself “one of the world’s leading e-cigarette manufacturers headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.”
As for its “strict quality control”, the manufacturer has several international certifications, such as European (RoHS, CE) and American (UL, FCC) certifications to ensure its customers clean and controlled production environments.
