The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday, May 16, 2024, the ban on the sale of Vuse Alto menthol electronic cigarettes, produced by Reynolds American, citing that the risks for young people outweigh the potential benefits for adult smokers.
This ban affects three menthol flavored products and three mixed berry flavored products, each available in three different nicotine strengths. The agency continues to examine the possibility of leaving tobacco flavors from the same company on the market.
Reynolds, maker of Camel and Newport cigarettes, says these inhalers help adults quit smoking by offering less harmful products.
Reynolds' parent company, British American Tobacco (BAT), said it would challenge the FDA's decision in court. Kingsley Wheaton, director of strategy and growth at BAT, said in a press release: “We believe flavored vaping products, including those with menthol, are key to helping adult smokers migrate from combustible cigarettes. . »
Having been on the market for several years, these vaping devices are gaining popularity among children and adolescents. Nearly 13% of middle and high school students who had vaped in the past 30 days reported Vuse as their favorite brand, ranking second after Puff Bar, according to a federal survey released in 2022.
Last year, the FDA ordered Juul Labs to stop selling its vaping products, but that ban was put on hold during Juul's appeal, which is still ongoing.
