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US Report Warns That Flavoured Vapes Are Still in Stores Despite Federal Ban

A recent report found that vape flavours considered appealing to kids are still widely available online and in stores, despite a ban and subsequent federal judge's ruling that should have pulled the products off store shelves by September 2021.

Diane Caruana

July 23, 2022

In January 2020, the FDA released the much anticipated guidance pertaining to flavoured vaping products. “Companies that do not cease manufacture, distribution and sale of unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes (other than tobacco or menthol) within 30 days risk FDA enforcement actions,” said the guidance, which went into effect the following February.

A judge ruling last September aimed to enforce the measure. Yet, said a report by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, countless kid-friendly vape flavours are still being sold through the five top online e-cigarette retailers, and widely available in convenience stores and gas stations located in eight cities across the country.

“Flavored e-cigarettes of precisely the kind that youth are using are widely available both on the internet and in retail outlets,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Flavors attract them. Nicotine addicts them,” Myers continued. “Without the flavors, many fewer kids would be attracted to these products — 85% of the kids who use an e-cigarette use a flavored one.”

A steep increase in flavoured disposable vapes

Meanwhile as a result of the ban, there has been a shift in the type of products teens purchase, such as a sharp drop in Juul sales and a steep increase in flavoured disposable devices by Puff Bar. The latter sells disposable e-cigarettes online in a range of flavours including pink lemonade, tobacco, and strawberry, and colours (some of which light up when used). The devices contain 5%, or 50mg, of salt nicotine.

Amidst previous concerns pertaining to the popularity of the Juul device which also delivers nicotine via salts, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had highlighted that the nicotine salts lead to a higher consumption of nicotine, making the device particularly dangerous for teenagers.

Meanwhile, said WebMD, the report by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids summarized the findings from n-store assessments conducted in eight cities as follows:

“Juul was sold in all cities, and brands like Vuse, NJOY and blu were available in most.
Flavored e-liquids were found in most cities, in flavors like Green Apple, Cola, Peachy Rings, Tropical Fruit, Strawberry Macaroon and Island Orange.
Disposable e-cigarettes were available in every city in flavors like Coconut Pineapple Smoothie, Strawberry Ice Cream, Gummy Bear, Mango Slushee and Blue Razz Lemonade.”