Safety concerns reported with IQOS Iluma: sharp metal fragments have caused incidents in Italy

In early December, the Italian consumer organization Altroconsumo raised a little-known issue regarding the widely used IQOS Iluma device. Specifically, there are sharp metal fragments present in the Terea Stick, which are not clearly indicated on the packaging, posing a risk to small children and animals if accidentally ingested.<\/p>

In Japan, the device has been in use since 2021, and some adverse events involving children have already occurred, but it is now officially confirmed that the first cases of accidental ingestion by children have also occurred in Italy.<\/p>

According to Altroconsumo, up to 21 children in Italy, most of whom are under one year old, have ingested the Terea Stick. These are cases reported by a single poison control center in Milan over five months, so it can be imagined that the problem may be more serious and widespread.<\/p>

The Danish coordinating department of JATC-2 (Joint Action on Tobacco Control), a European group dedicated to tobacco control, has communicated the alert from the Italian Ministry of Health to international members. The aim is to inform health workers worldwide about the risks of accidental ingestion of the Terea Stick so they can intervene quickly and effectively.<\/p>

The JATC-2 alert emphasizes the importance of considering the small size of the Stick, which makes it easier for children to manipulate and swallow, and points out the insufficient visibility of warnings on the label. This also poses a risk for adults with cognitive impairments.<\/p>

According to the JATC report, of the 21 children who ingested the Terea, 19 were hospitalized with repeated vomiting and cuts on their tonsils and cheeks. Some children required abdominal X-rays, and in two cases, endoscopies were performed to assess the condition of the digestive tract.<\/p>