AMHERST — New York health officials have subpoenaed the records of an Amherst company they say sold and manufactured thickening agents for possible black-market vaping products linked to vaping illnesses.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week instructed the state’s Department of Health to seek more information from Mass Terpenes LLC, which manufactures a product called Pure Diluent and, in Massachusetts’ corporate database, identifies its address as 6 University Drive in Amherst — the site of a UPS store.
Mass Terpenes, which New York authorities allege sells and manufactures thickening agents containing Vitamin E acetate, also known as tocopheryl acetate, is one of three companies subject to the subpoena.
The thickening agent is viewed by vapers as a cheaper, safer alternative that does not negatively impact flavoring or odor of existing products, and can be used to cut vape products to any level of THC.
Cuomo issued a statement about the reasons for the subpoenas.
“Common sense says if you do not know what you are smoking, don’t smoke it, and right now we don’t know what you are smoking in a lot of these vaping substances,” Cuomo said. “The rise in vaping-associated illnesses is a frightening public health phenomenon and I am directing the Department of Health to take several actions to address this crisis, including starting an investigation into some of these companies that produce vaping substances to find out what’s in it and requiring that smoke and vape shops post a warning that lets people know that this is a risky activity.”
The other companies whose records are being sought are Honey Cut Labs LLC in Santa Monica, California, which sells Honey Cut Diluting Agent, and Florapex Terpenese in Ypsilanti, Michigan, which sells Uber Thick.
Cuomo’s action comes in the wake of an increasing number of cases of vaping-associated respiratory illnesses, and more youths using vape products and developing lifelong nicotine addictions.
Efforts to contact Mass Terpenes, whose manager is listed in state filings as Daniel French, of 132 Woodland Drive in Athol, were unsuccessful Thursday. A notice to customers appeared on the company’s website Thursday afternoon, addressing the matter.
“We are alarmed by recent reports linking vape ingredients containing Vitamin E acetate to serious lung problems of consumers. These products have been made widely available across dozens of other companies and until the definitive cause is identified, do not include Vitamin E thickeners in anything you make or sell, and please notify your customers to avoid all products containing it,” the statement reads.
The message states that Mass Terpenes supports the efforts of state and federal authorities to get to the bottom of the public health emergency and that it intends to cooperate fully.
“MassTerpenes will be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” the statement reads. “Please know that we have never sold a product without assurances of safety from the leading terpene suppliers, and have taken steps to ensure that absolutely NO products on this site contain Vitamin E acetate.”
The statement was placed on the company’s website after an earlier posting about thickening agents.
“Please refrain from the use of any thickener products. We will not be offering any diluents until more information is available,” the earlier statement read.
It’s unclear how much connection to Amherst the company has, as town officials say they were unaware of its presence, with no evidence it was licensed through inspections or the health department.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
