MONDAY, June 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize the first menthol-flavored e-cigarettes has drawn the ire of health advocates who say they The decision undermines efforts to end the youth vaping epidemic in the United States. .
In approving four flavored vaping products manufactured by Njoy, the agency defended its decision.
“Based on our rigorous scientific review, in this case, the strength of the evidence of the benefits to adult smokers of completely switching to a less harmful product was sufficient to outweigh the risks to young people,” said Matthew Farrelly, director of the FDA’s Office of Science at the Center for Tobacco Products said in an agency news release announcing the authorization.
But that argument did not convince anti-smoking groups and health advocates.
“Today’s decision by the FDA to authorize the sale of four menthol-flavored e-cigarettes manufactured by Njoy (the first time the agency has authorized the sale of any flavored e-cigarette) is deeply concerning given the extensive scientific evidence that “Menthol is a flavor that appeals to children and the FDA’s repeated findings that flavored e-cigarettes, including menthol-flavored products, have driven e-cigarette use among youth,” Yolonda said in a statement. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
“Scientific evidence shows that menthol is a flavor that appeals to children, and the tobacco industry has a long history of using menthol flavorings to attract and addict children. According to the CDC, tobacco companies add menthol to tobacco products to make them appear less harsh and more attractive to young people,” Richardson added.
Other anti-smoking experts agreed.
“After the administration refused to finalize rules to ban menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars, this decision is a missed opportunity for the FDA to do the right thing,” Lisa Lecasse, president of the Network of American Cancer Society Cancer Action. he said in a statement. “By authorizing the sale of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, including two disposable menthol e-cigarettes, the agency continues to allow Big Tobacco to get yet another generation of young people addicted to their products.”
Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, also expressed deep dismay at the decision.
“Given everything we know about how attractive flavored tobacco products are to children, the American Academy of Pediatrics is deeply disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration has decided to authorize several e-cigarettes with menthol flavors,” Hoffman said in a statement.
“Menthol is one of the most popular e-cigarette flavors among youth and has been shown to increase tobacco use among children by masking the harshness of nicotine. These products have no place in the market,” she added. “These products will inevitably end up in the backpacks of high school students. “Once that happens, the FDA will be obligated to immediately reverse this deeply reckless decision.”
Despite the outcry over Friday’s FDA decision, youth vaping has actually declined from record highs in recent years, and about 10% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the past year, according to the report. Associated Press reported. But of those who vaped, 90% used flavors, including menthol.
Njoy’s products accounted for less than 3% of U.S. e-cigarette sales last year, according to the AP. Vuse, owned by Reynolds American, and Juul together control about 60% of the market.
In its authorization application, Njoy’s data showed that its menthol e-cigarettes helped smokers reduce their use of traditional cigarettes, the FDA said. Still, the agency stressed that the products are neither safe nor “FDA approved.”
Meanwhile, the FDA faces a self-imposed court deadline later this month to conclude its long-running review of major vaping brands, including Juul and Vuse, the AP reported.
Those brands have been sold in the United States for years, waiting for the FDA to take action on their clearance applications. To stay on the market, companies must demonstrate that their e-cigarettes provide a health benefit to smokers without significantly appealing to children.
More information
Johns Hopkins Medicine has more information about the dangers of vaping.
SOURCES: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, June 21, 2024; Associated Press; Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, press release, June 21, 2024; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, news release, June 21, 2024; American Academy of Pediatrics, news release, June 21, 2024
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