- Andreas Hungerbühler
- 2. May 2025
The FDA’s 2025 Raid on Poppers: How Simple Misinformation Blew Up into a Crackdown in USA
There is a real reason why providing accurate, transparent information about poppers and their use is central to our mission: current public health scares could have been avoided if people knew what they were buying, how to use poppers, and the associated risks with using poppers.
A Quick Recap
The recent FDA raid on Double Scorpio in Texas in March 2025 – and potentially other poppers manufacturers – has taken a lot of people by surprise. While some people are quick to attribute it to the Trump administration, the truth is that the FDA has had poppers on its radar since the ‘80s. As highlighted in the NPR “It’s Been a Minute” podcast (full link below), the agency’s concerns date back to the early days of the AIDS crisis. The current 2025 crackdown, which is yet to be confirmed by the FDA, seems to be a culmination of decades of regulatory scrutiny.
FDA Warnings (and the Real Reason Behind Them)
The FDA had previously issued strong advisories, such as “FDA Advises Consumers Not to Purchase or Use Nitrite ‘Poppers’” and “Ingesting or Inhaling Nitrite ‘Poppers’ Can Cause Severe Injury or Death”. If we judge this book by its cover, these warnings suggest that poppers are inherently dangerous. But if you look closer, you’ll find that many of the FDA’s cited incidents involve people who either drank poppers or confused them with energy shots – two scenarios that proper and clear labeling and increased education also in the US could have prevented.
The CBC article demanding proof raises a pressing question: Where’s the actual evidence that regularly inhaling poppers is so dangerous it justifies this full-blown crackdown? Meanwhile, a recent survey study featured on Taylor & Francis Online straight-up calls the situation “absurd,” highlighting that serious harm usually arises from mislabeling and basic misinformation, not responsible inhalation. The takeaway? If we peeled back the stigma and got honest about how these products are sold and used, we might see fewer sensational headlines – and more straightforward discussions – on how to handle poppers safely.
An FDA post from 2023 on X emphasized the severe health risks associated with ingesting poppers instead of inhaling them.
Why Education Matters More Than Ever
Poppers can cause a sudden head rush, lowered blood pressure, and muscle relaxation and can be fatal if swallowed. While energy shots do precisely what they promise: give a temporary energy boost. But why are some people confusing these two products? While the packaging is visibly similar, the ingredients and their effects are not, and since both poppers AND energy shots are sometimes known to be sold in the same store, providing accurate info is key to preventing misuse. Let’s break it down:
Packaging:
- Poppers come in small 10ml, 24ml or 30ml glass or aluminum bottles with narrow openings, indicating they’re not meant for drinking.
- Energy Shots are sold in small 50/60ml plastic bottles with wider openings, explicitly designed for swallowing the contents in one go.
Ingredients and Effects:
- Poppers contain nitrites like pentyl, isobutyl, hexyl, or isopropyl and are meant to be inhaled to produce a euphoric rush.
- Energy shots are formulated with caffeine, vitamins, taurine, or other stimulants and are meant to be ingested as a quick pick-me-up.
Now, while they are visibly similar, they are completely different in composition and effects, and if this were clear, vendors and users would avoid the confusion. But the results from the survey mentioned, which was executed in May 2023 in the New York City area, show just how serious, and twisted, this situation is:
- Stores: Investigators visited 98 stores in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens (NYC area). Out of those, 86 stores (88%) sold poppers.
- Vendors:
- 38 (44%) were unsure or couldn’t say what to do with poppers.
- 41 (48%) said poppers should be inhaled.
- 7 (8%) suggested people to drink them!
- Display: Of the 51 stores selling poppers and energy shots, 20 stores (39%) displayed them next to each other! A decision which is unacceptable for us.
This display shows poppers right next to energy shots – an alarming example of how easily the two products can be confused.
The results of the survey are alarming. If nearly half of the stores selling poppers can’t even explain what poppers are – or worse – suggest it is ok to drink them, we have a significant education fail.
The bottom line is that we don’t need bans or crackdowns. We need clear labels that make sense, credible information that’s easy to find, and responsible vendors that understand what they’re actually selling – so no one ends up drinking a product meant to be inhaled. Because if poppers are sitting right next to an energy shot, it’s just a matter of time before someone will mistake one for the other.
Our Commitment to Transparency and Safer Choices
At Poppers-Now, education and transparency are a priority; here are some of our actions:
- We Refuse to Stock Certain Chemicals: We deliberately do not carry products containing isobutyl nitrite or isopropyl nitrite – formulations banned in several countries and linked, according to various reports, to potentially carcinogenic effects.
- Laboratory Analysis for Quality: Our products undergo regular lab testing to verify adherence to safety standards, and product safety. This helps us guarantee a high-quality product.
- Childproof Caps & Safety Seals: Every poppers bottle we sell is wrapped in a plastic safety seal that covers the childproof cap lid to help prevent spilling and accidental opening.
- Clear Labeling & Contact Information: All our poppers include their composition and warning statements, along with our contact details. That way, anyone can reach us with questions or concerns.
- Commitment to Ongoing Education: From customers to vendors to policymakers and healthcare professionals, we focus on sharing accurate information and potential risks related to poppers. We regularly and unequivocally point out the dangers and side effects of poppers.
Final Thoughts
This journey – from the FDA raid in March 2025 to official warnings about poppers in 2021 – could have been avoided if everyone had access to the correct information about poppers. When poppers get confused with energy shots in convenience stores or when sales people claim they can be swallowed for an energy boost, we’re dealing with misinformation.
We are committed to demystifying poppers, ensuring they are never sold under wrongful pretenses, and providing you and your partner(s) with all the facts you need to stay safe. If you have doubts or concerns or want to chat about poppers (their composition, usage, or legal status), feel free to reach out to us.
Correct information isn’t just part of our DNA – it is a matter of public health. As part of our continuous efforts to educate our clients and the community about poppers, we’re helping to distribute the Safer Use Poppers flyer originally published by Aids-Hilfe Schweiz, which you can also download here.
May 2025
Sources:
- NPR “It’s Been a Minute” Podcast – “Poppers & the FDA: A Crackdown Decades in the Making”
- FDA Official Advisory on Nitrite Poppers – “FDA Advises Consumers Not to Purchase or Use Nitrite ‘Poppers’”
- FDA Consumer Updates on Nitrite Poppers – “Ingesting or Inhaling Nitrite ‘Poppers’ Can Cause Severe Injury or Death”
- CBC Article – “U.S. FDA warns against ‘poppers’ mistaken for energy shots, but some want proof”
- Academic Discussion on Taylor & Francis Online – “Nitrite Poppers and Overzealous Regulation”
Note: All links are provided for reference and context.