FDA approves new flavored e-cigarette products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized four new flavored electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products from Glas, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer. The approved products include mango, blueberry, and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, marking the first time fruit-flavored vapes have received FDA clearance. The agency stated the products meet the legal standard for public health protection and are restricted to adults aged 21 and older. The FDA highlighted age-verification technology as a key safeguard, requiring users to provide government-issued identification and pair devices with smartphones via Bluetooth. Acting Director Bret Koplow called these restrictions a 'potential game changer' in preventing underage use. The approval raises the total number of authorized ENDS products in the U.S. to 45, the only legally marketed vaping products nationwide under current FDA rules. Critics, including anti-tobacco groups, condemned the decision, arguing it risks reversing progress in reducing youth vaping. They urged the FDA to monitor marketing practices closely. The agency reiterated that no tobacco product is safe and warned non-users against starting, while vowing continued enforcement against unauthorized vapes, including illegal imports and youth-appealing products. The FDA’s shift reflects a change from previous policies, particularly under the first Trump administration, which banned flavored vapes due to teen appeal. Over a million flavored products were rejected in past reviews. The new authorization applies only to the specific Glas products reviewed, not the entire company’s lineup. Public health organizations called for vigilance in tracking the products’ impact, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight. The FDA emphasized its commitment to reducing youth access while allowing adult access to regulated products.