Fruit‑Flavored Vapes Get FDA OK After Long Wait

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has finally cleared fruit‑tasting e‑cigarettes for sale, a first in the country. The decision clears pods from Glas Inc. , a Los Angeles company that employs age‑verification tech to keep young people out. The flavors include mango, blueberry and two menthol options, sold under names like Gold and Sapphire. The agency said it found the company’s device restrictions and marketing limits to be strong enough to curb youth use. Still, experts warn that flavored products can lure teenagers and call for close monitoring of the new rules. Historically, regulators have hesitated to approve flavored vapes because they worry about teens. The FDA’s review now hinges on evidence that the products help adult smokers quit, a point many public‑health groups emphasize. Critics argue that approving these flavors could reverse gains made in reducing youth vaping.The move follows political pressure from the Trump administration, which pushed for quicker approvals. The White House claims flavored vapes aid adult cessation, while the Biden administration has tightened restrictions in response to health concerns. Glas’s system requires a government ID and a paired phone; the device stops working if separated from the phone. FDA officials see this tech as a potential safeguard against youth use while keeping options open for adults. The approval brings the total number of authorized e‑cigarette products in the U. S. to 45, at a time when more than 25 million Americans still smoke cigarettes— the leading preventable cause of chronic disease and early death.