Kroger, Walgreens Stop Sales Of E-Cigarette Over Vape Lung Disease

Kroger and Walgreens Boots Alliance joined the list of retailers that will not sell e-cigarettes stuck in vaping related controversies.

On Monday, the retail brands said they will stop selling e-cigarettes at their stores considering the regulatory scrutiny of the product following reports of lung disease and vaping related deaths.

Retail giant Walmart has already announced that it will not sell e-cigarettes and cited federal, state and local regulatory scrutiny and uncertainty.

The outcry against e-cigarettes and other vaping products soared after a mysterious lung disease struck users, mainly teenagers, with 18 deaths reported so far and hundreds of others under treatment. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDS) and FDA are spearheading measures to check vaping related health issues.

The sweet flavors of e-cigarettes had been drawing millions of children toward nicotine addiction.

Kroger operates more than 2,700 stores and 500 fuel stations, while Walgreens owns 10,000 drugstores in the United States. According to Kroger, it will stop the sale of e-cigarettes completely once the existing inventory gets over.

Walgreens updated that it will also cease selling e-cigarette products at its U.S. stores. Earlier, Walgreens had set 21 as a minimum legal age for its customers to buy tobacco products.

New York and Michigan have already banned the sale of flavored vaping products. The Trump administration also announced that it will drive out all flavored e-cigarettes from store shelves.

Bill seeks a reduction in Nicotine content

Meanwhile, U.S lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi proposed a bill in Congress seeking a cap on the nicotine content in e-cigarettes.

According to CNN, the bill wants a ceiling on nicotine content to less than 20 milligrams per milliliter. The intent is to hasten nicotine withdrawal.

Although the European Union has set a similar cap, the U.S. is yet to have a national standard on nicotine ratio.

E-cigarette maker Juul's five-percent pods carry 59 mg/ml. Juul defends the content saying the 5 percent Juul pods are the replacement of a one pack cigarette in terms of the number of puffs and nicotine content.

The lawmaker said: “While flavors hook kids, it's the nicotine that nets them and pulls them on the boat into a lifelong vaping habit and addiction.”

According to reports, the initiation of teens into vaping generally starts with a Juul starter kit sold for $64 carrying a Juul battery and four pods. Some buy just the Juul battery and four pods than a complete “starter pack.”

Meanwhile, FDA officials advised the public against using e-cigarettes or vaping cartridges bought from the black market. The caution is also reinforced by some recent test results on marijuana vape pens bought from the black market.

A majority of them contained a fungicide that would turn into hydrogen cyanide upon burning. At the same time, legal cartridges sold at a cannabis dispensary had been found safe for use.