Fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adults OK’d by FDA in major shift under Trump

The Food and Drug Administration made a groundbreaking announcement on Tuesday, authorizing fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes for adult smokers. This decision marks a significant shift in policy following months of lobbying from the vaping industry to President Trump. While health groups and parent organizations have expressed concerns about flavored e-cigarettes contributing to underage vaping, the FDA’s move comes at a time when teen vaping rates have declined to a 10-year low.

Vaping companies have long argued that their products can help reduce the harm caused by traditional smoking, which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. annually. Despite being available since 2007, e-cigarettes have faced scrutiny due to their popularity among middle and high school students. The newly authorized fruity e-cigarettes, including mango, blueberry, and two menthol varieties, will be marketed by Glas Inc. under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol, and Fresh Menthol.

Previously, the FDA had only approved tobacco or menthol-flavored vaping products from major manufacturers like Juul and Altria. The authorization of these new flavors does not constitute an endorsement but is intended for adult smokers looking to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption. Glas Inc. has implemented a digital age-verification system to prevent underage access to their products, requiring users to verify their age with a government ID on their cellphone and connect the e-cigarette via Bluetooth to the verified user’s phone.

The FDA has stated that it will closely monitor the marketing and usage of these authorized products and will take action if necessary to protect public health. While the vaping industry sees this decision as a positive development, organizations like the Truth Initiative remain cautious and emphasize the importance of monitoring youth usage of these products.

Under President Joe Biden, the FDA has rejected over a million marketing applications for candy or fruit-flavored vaping products, contributing to a decline in teen vaping rates. The Trump administration had previously implemented flavor restrictions on e-cigarettes and raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21. However, current FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has focused on other priorities, leading advocacy groups to call for more action on flavored e-cigarettes.

In a guidance released in March, the FDA acknowledged that certain flavors like menthol, coffee, mint, and spice could appeal to adult smokers, while highlighting the risks associated with sweeter flavors that attract teens. Despite the availability of unauthorized fruit and candy-flavored vaping products, the FDA’s authorization of new fruity e-cigarettes for adults aims to provide a safer alternative to traditional smoking.