FDA Orders Removal Of Fruity Puff Bar E-Cigarettes Popular Among Teenagers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials are cracking down on a type of fruity and disposable vape that is popular with teenagers.

FDA has sent a letter to the company behind Puff Bar asking it to remove the e-cigarette from the market within 15 business days. These include flavors like strawberry, mango, and pink lemonade. Federal authorities said the company, Cool Clouds Distribution, did not receive permission to sell the product in the United States.

The agency also sent warning letters to nine other firms selling similarly unauthorized nicotine solutions or e-cigarettes that hugely appeal to children, NBC News reported. Some of the products reportedly mimic the packaging of cereals and sweets such as Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Twinkies.

In the letter sent Monday, the FDA explained that the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires new tobacco products to seek authorization first before releasing them to the market. The FD&C Act is a collection of laws passed by the U.S. Congress that gave authority to the FDA to be in charge of the safety of items like vaping products.

The federal agency's action comes months after anti-vaping advocates warned disposable vape products like Puff Bar were not covered FDA's ban on flavored e-cigarettes. The agency, in February, banned reusable vaping products like Juul, the brand that helped launch the teen vaping trend in the U.S.

Under the FDA policy, the only allowed flavors for vaping devices were tobacco and menthol. However, flavor restrictions did not cover disposable vaping products such as Puff Bar.

Cool Clouds Distribution, a company based in Glendale, California, did not comment on the FDA letter.

Anti-vaping advocates had previously sent letters to the company asking it to remove all its disposable vaping products from the market. The group said such products were popular with teenagers who, in the past, used withdrawn Juul flavors like mango and mint, according to U.S. News and World Report.

For several months, the federal agency has been swamped in work relating to the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this year, the FDA suspended its in-person inspections at vape stores and convenience outlets meant to enforce restrictions on sales of vaping products. In late 2019, the U.S. raised the legal age requirement of those who want to buy e-cigarettes and other vaping and tobacco products from 18 to 21.