JUUL CEO Responds to Lung Illness Controversy

According to cnBeta on August 29, citing foreign media outlet CNET, Juul, one of the largest vaping companies in the United States, recently responded to health concerns related to vaping devices. In an interview with CBS This Morning, the company’s CEO Kevin Burns said that the recent vaping-related illness cases are “concerning” if the company has in any way contributed to them.

Vaping devices were designed to help people quit smoking without the harmful effects of cigarettes. But a growing number of people have been hospitalized because of vaping-related lung problems, seizures, and other health issues.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating nearly 200 potential lung illness cases across 22 states that may be linked to the use of vaping devices. In a statement last Friday, the CDC said that a patient in Illinois died from a severe lung illness associated with vaping, which “heightens concerns about the serious risks of vaping products.” The agency’s statement added that “e-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.”

Burns said CDC officials have been in “close contact” with Juul. “If there is any indication that our products are contributing to adverse health conditions, I think we will act very quickly,” Burns said in a statement on Wednesday.

The CDC did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.

“As with any health-related incident reportedly associated with the use of vapor products, we are monitoring these reports and have a robust safety monitoring process in place. We understand these incidents are being reviewed by health authorities,” Juul said in a statement on Wednesday.

CBS This Morning’s interview with Burns will air on Thursday.