FDA announces its first OK of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adults in
major shift under Trump
[May 06, 2026]
By MATTHEW PERRONE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced
its first authorization of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes intended
for adult smokers, a major policy shift that comes after months of
appeals to President Donald Trump from the vaping industry.
The decision is certain to be opposed by health groups and parent
organizations that have long pointed to flavors as the driver behind
underage vaping in the U.S. But the federal action comes as teen vaping
rates have dropped to a 10-year low and manufacturers have pushed the
Republican administration to loosen restrictions on their products.
Vaping companies have long made the case that their products can help
blunt the toll of smoking among adults, which is blamed for 480,000 U.S.
deaths annually due to cancer, lung disease and heart disease. The
battery-powered devices have been sold in the U.S. since 2007, but their
potential benefits have been overshadowed for years by uptake among
middle and high school students.
The newly authorized e-cigarettes come in mango, blueberry and two
varieties of menthol. Los Angeles-based vaping company Glas Inc. plans
to market the flavors under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol
and Fresh Menthol, according to the FDA release.
Previously the FDA had only granted permission to tobacco or
menthol-flavored vaping products. Most e-cigarettes OK'd by regulators
come from large manufacturers, including Juul and Altria.
Tuesday's announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA
reiterated that the Glas vapes are only intended for adults interested
in quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.
The FDA suggested the company's digital age-verification system makes it
unlikely the products will be picked up by underage users. Users must
first verify their age with a government ID on their cellphone. The
e-cigarettes can then only be used when connected via Bluetooth to the
phone of the verified user.
The FDA’s OK of the new fruity products will be “a key test case,” said
Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco nonprofit.
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 “Ultimately, it’s critical that we
remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely
monitoring the use of authorized products,” Crosby said in an
emailed statement.
As a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to “save”
vaping and won backing from e-cigarette companies, shop owners and
vaping enthusiasts.
Under President Joe Biden, the FDA denied more than a million
marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products, part
of a wider crackdown that is credited with helping drive down teen
vaping after a surge in 2019. During his first administration, Trump
put in place the first flavor restrictions on e-cigarettes and
raised the age for purchasing all tobacco products from 18 to 21.
But action on vaping and other tobacco policies has largely taken a
backseat under FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who has focused on a
slate of other priorities, including restricting COVID-19 vaccines,
phasing out artificial food dyes and speeding up approval of some
innovative drugs.
Groups such as the Vapor Technology Association have met with
administration officials in recent weeks calling for more action on
flavors.
In March, the FDA released its first-ever guidance to industry on
flavors, stating that menthol, coffee, mint and spice flavors could
have a role in appealing to adult smokers. The same document also
reiterated the risks of sweeter flavors that tend to appeal to
teens, such as fruit, candy and dessert flavors.
The vast majority of U.S. teens who vape continue to use
unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, according to the
latest government data. Those products are technically illegal but
remain widely available in cheap, disposable brands typically
imported from China.
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