1. Five Pawns – Be Informed As a pioneer in the vapor liquid industry, Five Pawns is committed to the quality of our vapor liquids.  Our vision has always been long-term.  We founded and built our company on the principle that one day, FDA regulation and approval would be a requirement for our products. We are poised and ready to comply with this standard if and when the time comes. There is currently no standardized or approved methodology for testing e-liquids.  That needs to change.  We want to assure our retailers and customers that Five Pawns is 100% dedicated to working to develop a standard methodology by which all e-liquids can be tested and held accountable. This week, it came to our attention that fraudulent claims have been made about our e-liquids.  We take these accusations very seriously, not only for ourselves but the industry as a whole. It is reckless and liable to post test results on products using a non-validated method.  Therefore, we have issued a Cease and Desist in the matter and are aggressively pursuing all legal remedy necessary to correct the public record.

2. Safety of e-liquids is of vital importance to the continued growth of our industry and Five Pawns intends to lead the way.   There are many variables to vaping, including flavor supplier ingredients, manufacturing processes and devices that make safety and testing a much more complex issue than it appears on the surface.  We have funded extensive independent research, including inhalation and heat studies, and have plans to begin in-vitro research as well, looking at the effects of e-liquid vapor on lung tissue.  In our research, we have also discovered that the effects of storage conditions and time on the shelf can also affect the variability of test results.  Therefore, we have also initiated long-term stability and degradation testing, which can take up to two years for results.  Suffice it to say, we are committed. TEST RESULTS(Content updated 07/21/2015) It is widely accepted that in comparative terms vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes.  Cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals including 30 to 70 known carcinogens.  Both the World Health Organization and American Heart Association support vaping as a safer alternative to smoking if other methods have failed. Since our founding in 2012, Five Pawns has been dedicated to creating the highest quality vapor liquids on the market. 

3. When diacetyl was raised as a concern, we moved to source solely diacetyl-free ingredients, only to discover that trace amounts of diacetyl can naturally occur in vapor liquids, just as with beer and wine, and some fruits such as strawberries. TEST RESULTS(Content updated 07/21/2015) In response to the diacetyl concern in 2014, some vapor industry flavor suppliers began using acetyl propionyl (AP), Also known as 2,3 pentanedione, as a substitute for diacetyl. While AP has not been linked to any health concerns related specifically to vaping, and it is not banned by the FDA or any International body, its relative safety or harm is unknown. (Content updated 07/01/2015) It is important to note however, that high levels of both diacetyl and AP are present in cigarettes, yet there has been no link to bronchial obliterates.  See abstract report below. (Crit Rev Toxicol. 2014 May;44(5):420-35. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2014.882292. Epub 2014 Mar 17. Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione exposures associated with cigarette smoking: implications for risk assessment of food and flavoring workers. Pierce JS1, Abelmann A, Spicer LJ, Adams RE, Finley BL.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24635357

4. Further, we feel that efforts to translate industrial exposure limits to vaping exposure limits are flawed. It is clearly not the same. (One example of many, in an industrial setting, every inhale 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week contains constant airborne particles. With vaping, fresh air is taken in between puffs.)  If the industrial comparison were true, one would expect a population of individuals becoming sick from vaping, but this is not the case.  We are not aware of any publicly documented cases of  respiratory issues specifically related to vaping AP or diacetyl at the levels currently in e-liquids.  Many websites and blogs discuss this exact issue.  We are confident that studies and future data will show inhalation from vaping e-liquids should not be compared to industrial exposure limits. (Content updated 07/01/2015) Vapor enthusiasts seek out Five Pawns for our well-known complex, multi-layered flavors and we are determined to ensure the quality of the Five Pawns experience. In 2014, we contracted with two independent testing laboratories to analyze each of our 10 core flavors and our latest limited edition flavor. TEST RESULTS(Content updated 07/21/2015) But we wanted to go further.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihvE8OE8oI0

5. So last year we moved to formalize the standardization of our manufacturing processes. This includes incorporating a gravimetric pouring process to our production to ensure greater accuracy of ingredients, and moving our mixing, steeping and bottling of liquids in an ISO 8 clean room to ensure consistency and purity. In the meantime, it’s important that consumers can enjoy the Five Pawns flavor experience with the highest level of confidence.  Five Pawns does not feel there is any concern with diacetyl or AP in our e-liquids at current levels.  AP can be an important flavor enhancer for flavor profiles that are creamy in nature, and is used widely in the food and beverage industries. To satisfy any consumers who are looking for a line of e-liquids that are completely diacetyl and AP-free, this summer we are introducing a new PG-alternative line of vapor liquids that will deliver the same legendary flavor profiles that Five Pawns is known for, while offering an alternative to people with PG sensitivity. The new line of vapor liquids will also solve the flavor problem for those who have sacrificed taste in pursuit of greater vapor production.

6. Five Pawns is dedicated to quality and is committed to providing an alternative for those wanting a pleasurable vice with less consequence.  We will continue to produce our current Five Pawns flavor profiles, constantly improving our products with ongoing testing and adherence to any regulations or testing standards required by any regulatory body in the future. We’re happy to answer and questions or concerns you have.  You can post a comment here or email us at customerservice@fivepawns.com. Article Resource: http://fivepawns.com/blog/Five-Pawns-Be-Informed/