As a city council member, one of my responsibilities is helping create a community where families and children can thrive. That’s why I want to bring attention to the FDA’s recent decision to authorize the sale of mango- and blueberry-flavored e-cigarettes.
The FDA has repeatedly acknowledged that flavors are one of the primary reasons young people begin using e-cigarettes, in fact, nearly all (92.5%) of youth and young adults who have ever used e-cigarettes started with a flavored product. Many of these kids likely would have never picked up a traditional cigarette in the first place. Instead, they are being drawn in by products that are intentionally designed to taste appealing, while often carrying the false perception that vaping is harmless. Once introduced, many become addicted to nicotine at a young age. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the adolescent brain, impacting learning, memory and attention.
What makes this decision inconsistent is that the FDA previously rejected other flavored vaping products based on the same concerns. If the science and evidence showed these flavors were a high risk to young people then, then mango and blueberry flavors are still a high risk now, especially when fruit flavors continue to be the most popular among young e-cigarette users.
I appreciate Congresswoman Celeste Maloy’s leadership on this issue. She has been a strong advocate for protecting children from youth vaping, co-sponsoring legislation to crack down on illegal and unauthorized e-cigarette products, and serving as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping. I hope she will continue that leadership by urging the FDA to reconsider decisions that make it easier for these products to reach the next generation.
Mackey Smith,
Bluffdale
