FDA Approves Menthol E-Cigarettes to Aid Adult Smokers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first menthol-flavored electronic cigarettes for adult smokers, marking a significant indication that these flavors may help reduce the harms associated with traditional tobacco smoking. The FDA has authorized four menthol e-cigarettes from NJOY, a brand recently acquired by Altria, which also produces Marlboro cigarettes. This decision aligns with the companies' assertions that their products can help lower the smoking-related death toll, which is estimated at 480,000 annually in the U.S.

This approval is part of a broader FDA review of the multibillion-dollar vaping market, which includes thousands of unregulated fruit and candy-flavored vapes. Despite the FDA's decision, parent groups and anti-tobacco advocates are likely to be disappointed, as they have been pushing against the availability of flavors like menthol, which are more popular with teens. The FDA emphasized that while these products are authorized for adult smokers, they are not considered safe and should not be used by non-smokers.