FDA Authorizes Blueberry and Mango Vape Flavors for Glas Products

The FDA authorized the sale of blueberry- and mango-flavored vape juices made by Glas earlier this month. The approval is the first time the agency has cleared e-cigarette flavors other than tobacco and menthol. A Glas spokesperson said the company’s data show flavored products can help adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes.

The spokesperson added that the company’s technology is designed to limit youth access and support responsible use.

2019, Mitch Zeller, then head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, received a call from a staffer. The call came after the White House directed the FDA to limit an earlier planned ban to pod-based vapes and leave menthol flavors alone. Zeller said the change occurred because the administration was responding to political pushback ahead of the 2020 election.

He described the shift as a political retreat.

The recent Glas authorization followed reports of pressure from the White House. Former FDA commissioner Marty Makary reportedly left the agency in part over concerns about the products’ appeal to minors. Zeller, who retired in 2022, said the current approach aligns with statements President Trump has made about the political importance of the vaping constituency.

He also noted Trump’s relationship with tobacco industry executives. White House spokesman Kush Desai said the administration’s policy is based on evidence that the products help Americans quit smoking. Desai added that gold standard science is the only guiding factor in the administration’s health policymaking.

Eric Lindblom, another former FDA Center for Tobacco Products official, said Trump reversed course on earlier plans after facing opposition from adult vapers and vape shop owners. Lindblom said the president learned from that experience.

U.S. adults smoke cigarettes while 7 percent vape. The 21- to 24-year-old age group has the highest vaping rate among adults. U.S. market lack FDA authorization. Reynolds American vice president Luis Pinto said the company has long advocated for increased enforcement to reduce the share of illicit products.

In one of Makary’s final days as commissioner, the FDA announced it would focus on clearing the market of illicit vapes from companies that have not sought authorization. Companies that have filed applications but have not yet received approval may continue selling their products while reviews continue.