FDA drops guardrails on vaping industry in major Trump pivot
The move expands FDA approval beyond menthol and tobacco flavors as researchers warn fruity products can attract young users.
- On May 12, 2026, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary resigned following private disagreements with President Donald Trump over the agency's authorization of two fruit-flavored nicotine vapes.
- President Trump reportedly urged the FDA to expedite approvals for flavored products, triggering a clash with Makary over whether to authorize the items amid administration pressure.
- Before authorizing the fruit-flavored 'Sapphire' and 'Gold' nicotine vapes, the FDA had only cleared menthol- and tobacco-flavored products, bringing the total approved vaping items to 45.
- Researchers remain divided on flavored vapes, with evidence showing they attract youth users even as they may help smokers quit, complicating the public health calculus.
- The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires new nicotine products to be 'appropriate for the protection of public health,' a standard that continues to guide authorization decisions.
25 Articles
25 Articles
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FDA drops guardrails on vaping industry in major Trump pivot
The Trump administration is pivoting hard on vaping, taking down guardrails that have limited the industry’s growth in recent years and making clear the tobacco industry’s enduring influence over Washington. In the span of two weeks, the Trump administration granted marketing authorization to four flavored vaping products and issued new guidance allowing unauthorized vapes to stay on…
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