FDA Grants Fruit-Flavored Vapes to Adults, Signaling a Policy Pivot

The FDA granted the first authorization for fruit-flavored e-cigarettes intended for adult smokers, a major policy shift pressured by the vaping industry during the Trump era. The Glas Inc. devices come in mango, blueberry and two menthol varieties and require age verification via government ID and Bluetooth linkage to the user’s phone. The agency says the products are for adults looking to quit or cut back on cigarettes, not an endorsement, and will monitor marketing and usage closely, with the possibility of suspension if youth uptake increases or benefits no longer outweigh risks. The move contrasts with Biden-era crackdowns that denied many flavor applications, and it comes amid ongoing debate about flavors fueling teen vaping despite declining youth usage.