FDA Authorizes First Fruit-Flavored E-Cigarettes for Adult Smokers

Administration announced on Tuesday its first authorization of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes intended for adult smokers. The products come from Los Angeles-based vaping company Glas Inc. and include mango, blueberry, and two varieties of menthol.

Glas Inc. plans to market the flavors under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol, and Fresh Menthol, according to the FDA release. Previously, the FDA had only granted permission to tobacco or menthol-flavored vaping products. Most e-cigarettes authorized by regulators come from large manufacturers, including Juul and Altria.

The announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA stated that the Glas vapes are only intended for adults interested in quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.

The FDA noted that the company's digital age-verification system requires users to verify their age with a government ID on their cellphone. The e-cigarettes can then only be used when connected via Bluetooth to the phone of the verified user. The agency suggested this system makes it unlikely the products will be picked up by underage users.

The FDA stated in a press release that it will closely monitor how these products are marketed and will act if the company fails to comply with requirements. The agency may suspend or withdraw authorization if there is a notable increase in youth use or if benefits no longer outweigh risks.

Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco nonprofit, said the authorization will be a key test case. She added that it is critical to remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely monitoring the use of authorized products.

The decision follows months of appeals to President Trump from the vaping industry. Vaping companies have stated that their products can help reduce the toll of smoking among adults, which is blamed for 480,000 U.S. deaths annually due to cancer, lung disease, and heart disease.

The battery-powered devices have been sold in the U.S. since 2007, but their potential benefits have been affected by uptake among middle and high school students. Teen vaping rates have dropped to a 10-year low, according to government data. The vast majority of U.S. teens who vape use unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, typically imported from China, which are technically illegal but remain widely available.

Under former President Joe Biden, the FDA denied more than a million marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products. Groups such as the Vapor Technology Association have met with administration officials in recent weeks calling for more action on flavors.

In March, the FDA released guidance stating that menthol, coffee, mint, and spice flavors could have a role in appealing to adult smokers, while reiterating risks of sweeter flavors that tend to appeal to teens. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has focused on other priorities, including restricting COVID-19 vaccines, phasing out artificial food dyes, and speeding up approval of some innovative drugs.