FDA May Ban All E-Cigarette Pod Flavors Except Menthol and Tobacco

According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may ban all e-cigarette pod flavors except for menthol and tobacco.<\/p>

Last September, the Trump administration indicated that it would soon ban the sale of nearly all flavored e-cigarettes due to a rise in lung injury cases linked to vaping.<\/p>

The new ban has two significant changes: in addition to tobacco, menthol-flavored pods will still be allowed. Reportedly, this flavor ban will only apply to pods—flavored nicotine liquids will still be available for open-system e-cigarettes.<\/p>

 <\/p>

The ban aims to curb the rise of youth smoking. Since open systems are less popular among teenagers, the government is focusing on pods (like those used by Juul), which are believed to be driving youth vaping.<\/p>

Trump stated in a speech on Tuesday that the ban on flavored e-cigarettes could be "temporary."<\/p>

He also mentioned that flavored e-cigarettes would be "pulled from the shelves for a while" to check their safety, and if deemed safe, they could return to the market. Trump stated, "If everything is safe, they will be back on the market soon."<\/p>

Initial reports regarding the FDA ban did not mention the possibility of safety checks or a return to the market. Trump seems to be conflating several issues related to e-cigarettes, so it remains unclear what the agency will announce.<\/p>

 <\/p>

This ban does not address the issue of lung injuries caused by vaping. Lung injuries do not appear to be caused by flavored pods, but rather seem to stem from various e-liquids designed for open systems, sometimes from black market brands.<\/p>

Trump stated, "We must protect our families." "At the same time, this is a big industry, and we want to protect it."<\/p>

Previously, Juul had already stopped selling all flavored pods except for menthol and tobacco.<\/p>