Juul announced Thursday it will suspend sales of all fruity flavors for its e-cigarettes ahead of the Trump administration’s total ban of all flavored e-cigarettes, CNBC reports.
What’s going on: Juul stopped selling flavored e-cigarettes in retail stores after receiving pressure from the Food and Drug Administration. You could still buy those flavors on the company’s website, though. The flavored pods will still be available overseas, CNN reports.
- The Trump administration announced plans to remove all flavored pods — including mint, menthol and all other fruity flavors — from store shelves. Juul said it will continue to sell mint and menthol nicotine pods for now.
- Only tobacco flavored e-cigarettes remain on the market.
What they’re saying: “We continue to review our policies and practices in advance of FDA’s flavor guidance and have not made any final decisions,” Juul spokesman Austin Finan said in a statement. “We are refraining from lobbying the administration on its draft flavor guidance and will fully support and comply with the final policy when effective.”
Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, slammed the announcement, saying it “shows that it hasn’t changed one bit under its new leadership and isn’t serious about preventing youth use,” as reported by CNN.
Context: The Trump administrations ban came in response to a teen vaping epidemic. Experts said that the fruity flavors appeal to children and teens and can “minimize how harmful and addictive vapes are perceived to be,” CNN reports. Opponents said the fruity flavors helped adults switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, though.
More news: Juul also recently announced it will suspend broadcast, print and digital advertising in the U.S., according to The Verge.