The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it would consider vapes in flavors such as mint, coffees, teas, and spices, possibly like clove or cinnamon, shifting the agency’s opposition to flavored vape products.

FDA said it would continue to reject products in sweet or fruity flavors that it says are more appealing to young people.
Reminder: The first Trump administration banned most flavored vapes in 2019, and surveys have shown a considerable decline in high school vaping since.

The details:

E-cigarette companies applying for authorization have had to prove to FDA that their products are both more likely to get adult smokers to switch over to e-cigarettes than tobacco flavors and that the benefits to adults “outweigh the added risk to youth.” Products in the new flavors would face that same test.
But so far, FDA has authorized only a couple dozen products in tobacco and menthol flavors.

The response: Public health groups oppose the policy, noting that flavors, including mint, coffee, and cinnamon, appeal to young people, and that we have seen this playbook before from tobacco companies promoting rebranded products to get around health concerns.

Why it’s important:

Flavored products are appealing to young people. Experts worry this change could set back the progress made in reducing the number of underage people who use e-cigarettes.
Flavors also counteract the unpleasant effects inherent to nicotine and can make e-cigarettes easier to inhale and increase their addictive potential.
Some of the flavors can be toxic. Cinnamon and clove, in particular, are among the most toxic flavor chemicals that have been identified in e-cigarettes.
The larger context: The guidance is especially concerning in light of the growing nicotine pouch market and FDA’s recent authorization of pouches in flavors like coffee, mint, and citrus. Last year, the administration also withdrew proposed rules that would have banned menthol in cigarettes and reduced their levels of nicotine, while budget cuts effectively shuttered CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.

Next steps: The draft guidance is open for public comment for 60 days.