FDA Threatens to Take Flavored E-Cigarettes off the Market

By Kristin J. Kelley

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD

The FDA warned on Wednesday that flavored electronic cigarettes may be banned.

Citing an "epidemic proportion of growth," the FDA has launched a plan aimed at preventing minors from using electronic cigarettes. If the manufacturers of the five major brands sold in the U.S. (Blu, JUUL, Logic, MarkTen, and Vuse) can't prove they can keep their products away from underage teenagers, the agency warned, it could take some or all their flavored e-cigarettes off the market.

In addition, the FDA issued some 1300 warnings and fines to brick-and-mortar retailers (e.g., 7-Eleven), as well as online sellers. The FDA revealed it has been running a nationwide undercover "blitz" to crack down on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

Earlier this year, several retailers stopped selling nicotine-containing e-products with labels that resembled kid-friendly foods in response to FDA action. The agency noted that it will use "both civil and criminal remedies" if tobacco product manufacturers violate the law.