FDA Partial Ban on E-Cigarettes Led to ‘Unacceptable’ Youth Use

The FDA’s allowance of certain kid-friendly e-cigarette flavors to remain on the shelves has had “negative unintended consequences” for children, acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said Wednesday.

Survey results show youth vaping was lower overall in 2020 compared to 2019, but use of flavored disposable e-cigarettes rose substantially. Those products were excluded from the 2020 Food and Drug Administration ban, which pulled cartridge-based products in fruity and mint flavors from the market because they were alluring to teenagers. Some flavors like menthol remained.

Continued youth use of these products is still at “unacceptable levels,” Woodcock said at a hearing before the ...