This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
On September 12, 2019, the Trump administration announced plans to ban flavored e-cigarettes, a move aimed at curbing the growing youth vaping epidemic.
Speaking to reporters, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar acknowledged that removing flavor pods from stores had inadvertently led to a surge in the use of menthol and mint e-cigarettes among children.
‘What we’ve seen has been, and it may be connected, a huge spiking of children’s utilization of mint and menthol e-cigarettes, which remain, by all manufacturers, available in retail stores,’ Azar said.
First Lady Melania Trump, who attended a meeting with Azar and other officials, expressed her concerns about the issue, citing her own son’s age and the potential risks of e-cigarettes.
Despite Juul’s claims that its products were not targeted at minors, the company’s sleek devices have become increasingly popular among young people, who can easily conceal them.
On Monday, the FDA took action against Juul, sending a warning letter accusing the company of promoting its vaping products as a healthier option than cigarettes.
As for the agency’s decision to prohibit most flavors, Juul spokesman Ted Kwong said the company would comply, stating, ‘We strongly agree with the need for aggressive category-wide action on flavored products.’
