Food-Grade Ingredients – What Are They in Vaping?

Definition

Food-grade ingredients are flavourings, carriers and additives that meet the same safety standards used in everyday food production and are legally approved for human consumption. In vaping, these ingredients—typically propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), certified flavour concentrates and Nicotine“>liquid nicotine—form the base of every e-liquid. Their purpose is to deliver flavour, throat-hit and visible vapour while meeting strict Australian food-safety limits for contaminants, heavy metals and solvents. Choosing e-liquids made with food-grade ingredients reduces the risk of inhaling industrial-grade impurities and is the first step toward safer vaping, whether you use freebase nicotine or nicotine salts.

Technical Details

Food-grade status is governed by the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Code and international pharmacopoeia. PG must be ≥99.5 % pure, USP/EP certified and contain <0.1 % water; VG must be ≥99.7 % plant derived and <0.05 % ash. Flavour molecules (esters, ketones, aldehydes) must be FEMA-GRAS or EU 1334/2008 listed and tested at ≤100 ppm residual solvents like diacetyl. Liquid nicotine is diluted in PG to reach 100 mg/mL, then blended to final strengths of 0–20 mg/mL for the local market. Manufacturers issue COA (Certificate of Analysis) and SDS sheets proving absence of arsenic, lead, benzene and pesticide residues. Common variations include organic VG, kosher PG and natural flavour extracts that avoid added sugar or colouring—both of which can caramelise on coils and cause flooding or coilgunk.

Usage & Tips

• Check labels: Look for “USP,” “EP,” “FEMA-GRAS” or “food-grade” wording plus a batch number; scan the QR code for the COA.
• Steep correctly: Food-grade flavours mature over 3–14 days; steeping in glass away from sunlight prevents oxidation that can darken juice or pepper nicotine.
• Avoid tank crackers: Natural citrus or cinnamon flavours can etch plastic; use Pyrex or PCTG pods to prevent leaks into the Port“>fill port.
• Shake well: VG is viscous; shaking redistributes nicotine and prevents hot-spots that may irritate the throat.
• Store cool: Keep below 25 °C; heat speeds nicotine oxidation and can turn food-grade PG slightly acidic, leading to harsh hits or flavour muting.

History & Context

When the first Australian vape stores opened circa 2008, many juices were mixed with industrial PG or supermarket flavour oils. Publicised cases of lipid pneumonia pushed reputable vendors toward food-grade standards already used by pharmaceutical and food industries. Today, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) implicitly references food-grade purity for nicotine liquids, while import permits require accompanying COAs, cementing food-grade ingredients as the baseline for legal, safety-conscious vaping Down Under.