First fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adults authorized by FDA

A SEISMIC SHIFT IN HEALTH POLICY. THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION NOW AUTHORIZING SOME FRUIT FLAVORED E-CIGARETTES AND VAPES INTENDED FOR ADULT SMOKERS. PREVIOUSLY, ONLY TOBACCO OR MENTHOL FLAVORED VAPE PRODUCTS WERE APPROVED BY THE FDA. THIS FEDERAL INTERVENTION COMES AS THE NUMBER OF TEENS WHO TURN TO VAPES HITS A TEN YEAR LOW. VAPING COMPANIES HAVE PRESSURED THE WHITE HOUSE TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS, ARGUING THESE PRODUCTS CAN HELP PEOPLE STOP SMOKING. TRADITIONAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. THIS AUTHORIZATION IS NOW RAISING CONCERNS AMONG DOCTORS AND PARENTS. JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THIS CHANGE IN POLICY IS DOCTOR JASON ROSE, CHIEF OF PULMONOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, DOCTOR ROSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. SO WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THIS DECISION BY THE FDA? I THINK THAT IT GAVE ME CONCERN. I’VE BEEN STUDYING VAPING AND E-CIGARETTES FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW, AND WE JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY RISKS OF THEM. AND SO ANY ACTION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE YOUNG PEOPLE USING THESE PRODUCTS GIVES ME CONCERN. SO WHY ARE FLAVORS STILL SUCH A FLASHPOINT IN THIS DEBATE? WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT? WELL, PREVIOUSLY THE FDA WAS ONLY APPROVING TOBACCO FLAVORED OR MENTHOL FLAVORED VAPING PRODUCTS, WHICH CLASSICALLY HAVE NOT ATTRACTED YOUNGER PEOPLE JUST FOR THEIR FLAVOR PROFILE. WHEN YOU START INTRODUCING, WE’LL SAY, MORE FUN FLAVORS LIKE FRUIT FLAVORS OR CANDY FLAVORS, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNGER PEOPLE TO START TO TRY TO USE THESE PRODUCTS. AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT STARTS THE CYCLE OF CHRONIC USE AND POTENTIALLY USING OTHER PRODUCTS WITH TOBACCO. IS THERE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORTING THE CLAIMS THAT VAPES MAKE SMOKERS QUIT TRADITIONAL SMOKING? THAT’S A COMPLEX TOPIC. THERE’S PEOPLE WHO HAVE SMOKED COMBUSTIBLE CIGARETTES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HAVE DEVELOPED CHRONIC DISEASES. AND THERE’S SOME THAT ARGUE THAT PERHAPS SWITCHING TO A VAPING PRODUCT MIGHT BE LESS RISKY TO THEIR HEALTH THAN CLASSIC CIGARETTES, WHICH WE VERY MUCH KNOW. THERE’S A LOT OF RISKS TO. NOW, THAT SAID, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OF EVIDENCE ON WHAT THE IMPACTS OF CIGARETTES ARE REALLY. IF YOU LOOK AT VAPING PRODUCTS, THEY WEREN’T INTRODUCED INTO THE UNITED STATES UNTIL AROUND 2010. YOU DIDN’T EVEN SEE WITH TOBACCO OR CIGARETTES UNTIL 30 YEARS AFTER THEIR INTRODUCTION. REALLY, THE HEALTH IMPACT. THAT’S WHAT EVERYONE’S REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IS WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE LONG TERM RISKS ARE FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, IS VAPING COULD BE CONSIDERED THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS. OR IS THAT TOO SIMPLISTIC? I THINK RIGHT NOW THE JURY’S STILL OUT ON IS VAPING WORSE OR LESS RISKY THAN COMBUSTIBLE CIGARETTES? AND WE WE WON’T KNOW THAT FOR SURE FOR PROBABLY DECADES, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STUDYING IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW CAN WE PREDICT WHAT THE HEALTH RISKS FOR VAPING AND E-CIGARETTES ARE. IF YOU LOOK BACK TO 2019, THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK IN THE UNITED STATES OF OVER 2500 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WHO DEVELOPED E-CIGARETTE OR VAPING USE ASSOCIATED LUNG INJURY, WHICH HOSPITALIZED ALMOST 2800 AND ACTUALLY KILLED SOME YOUNG PEOPLE, SHOWING THAT THERE’S AT LEAST SOME RISK TO THESE PRODUCTS. NOW, THAT WAS A PARTICULAR SET, BUT TO SAY THAT THEY’RE SAFE. WE DON’T SAY THAT. SHOULD PARENTS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS POLICY CHANGE? I THINK THAT IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE POTENTIALLY USING AS FAR AS CIGARETTES OR VAPING PRODUCTS. A LOT OF THESE PRODUCTS STILL CONTAIN NICOTINE, AND THAT IS AN ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE. AND SO YOU WOULDN’T WANT YOUR CHILD TO START USING OR START A NICOTINE ADDICTION PER SE. AND THEY’RE VERY POPULAR IN HIGH SCHOOLS AND EVEN IN MIDDLE SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THERE ARE RISKS. I ALWAYS ADVISE AS A PULMONOLOGIST, THE ONLY THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE INHALING IS CLEAN AIR. THAT’S GREAT ADVICE. I LOVE IT. DOCTOR ROSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND GIVING US YOUR TIM

Updated: 11:11 PM EDT May 8, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 11:11 PM EDT May 8, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced its first authorization of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes intended for adult smokers, a major policy shift that comes after months of appeals to President Donald Trump from the vaping industry. Related video above: Doctor discusses FDA authorization of some vapesThe decision is certain to be opposed by health groups and parent organizations that have long pointed to flavors as the driver behind underage vaping in the U.S. But the federal action comes as teen vaping rates have dropped to a 10-year low and manufacturers have pushed the Republican administration to loosen restrictions on their products.Vaping companies have long made the case that their products can help blunt 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 overshadowed for years by uptake among middle and high school students.The newly authorized e-cigarettes come in mango, blueberry and two varieties of menthol. Los Angeles-based vaping company 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 OK'd by regulators come from large manufacturers, including Juul and Altria.Tuesday's announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA reiterated that the Glas vapes are only intended for adults interested in quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.The FDA suggested the company's digital age-verification system makes it unlikely the products will be picked up by underage users. Users must first 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 FDA's OK of the new fruity products will be "a key test case," said Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco nonprofit."Ultimately, it's critical that we remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely monitoring the use of authorized products," Crosby said in an emailed statement.Previous coverage below: Teen vaping hits 10-year low, but officials urge continued effortAs a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to "save" vaping and won backing from e-cigarette companies, shop owners and vaping enthusiasts.Under President Joe Biden, the FDA denied more than a million marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products, part of a wider crackdown that is credited with helping drive down teen vaping after a surge in 2019. During his first administration, Trump put in place the first flavor restrictions on e-cigarettes and raised the age for purchasing all tobacco products from 18 to 21.But action on vaping and other tobacco policies has largely taken a backseat under FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who has focused on a slate of other priorities, including restricting COVID-19 vaccines, phasing out artificial food dyes and speeding up approval of some innovative drugs.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 its first-ever guidance to industry on flavors, stating that menthol, coffee, mint and spice flavors could have a role in appealing to adult smokers. The same document also reiterated the risks of sweeter flavors that tend to appeal to teens, such as fruit, candy and dessert flavors.The vast majority of U.S. teens who vape continue to use unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, according to the latest government data. Those products are technically illegal but remain widely available in cheap, disposable brands typically imported from China.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

WASHINGTON —

Related video above: Doctor discusses FDA authorization of some vapes

The decision is certain to be opposed by health groups and parent organizations that have long pointed to flavors as the driver behind underage vaping in the U.S. But the federal action comes as teen vaping rates have dropped to a 10-year low and manufacturers have pushed the Republican administration to loosen restrictions on their products.

Vaping companies have long made the case that their products can help blunt 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 overshadowed for years by uptake among middle and high school students.

The newly authorized e-cigarettes come in mango, blueberry and two varieties of menthol. Los Angeles-based vaping company 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 OK'd by regulators come from large manufacturers, including Juul and Altria.

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

The FDA suggested the company's digital age-verification system makes it unlikely the products will be picked up by underage users. Users must first 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 FDA's OK of the new fruity products will be "a key test case," said Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco nonprofit.

"Ultimately, it's critical that we remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely monitoring the use of authorized products," Crosby said in an emailed statement.

Previous coverage below: Teen vaping hits 10-year low, but officials urge continued effort

As a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to "save" vaping and won backing from e-cigarette companies, shop owners and vaping enthusiasts.

Under President Joe Biden, the FDA denied more than a million marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products, part of a wider crackdown that is credited with helping drive down teen vaping after a surge in 2019. During his first administration, Trump put in place the first flavor restrictions on e-cigarettes and raised the age for purchasing all tobacco products from 18 to 21.

But action on vaping and other tobacco policies has largely taken a backseat under FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who has focused on a slate of other priorities, including restricting COVID-19 vaccines, phasing out artificial food dyes and speeding up approval of some innovative drugs.

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 its first-ever guidance to industry on flavors, stating that menthol, coffee, mint and spice flavors could have a role in appealing to adult smokers. The same document also reiterated the risks of sweeter flavors that tend to appeal to teens, such as fruit, candy and dessert flavors.

The vast majority of U.S. teens who vape continue to use unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, according to the latest government data. Those products are technically illegal but remain widely available in cheap, disposable brands typically imported from China.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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First fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adults authorized by FDA

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