FDA Issues Warning Letters to Company Illegally Marketing E-Cigarettes

This week, the FDA Center for Tobacco Products issued warning letters to five companies that were illegally marketing e-cigarettes in the U.S. These products were particularly concerning in that the e-cigarette products were packaged to look like toys, food or cartoons that would appeal to kids. None of the e-cigarettes had been submitted to FDA for pre-market approval, as is required by the Tobacco Control Act.

"The designs of these products are an utterly flagrant attempt to target kids,” said Brian King, PhD, MPH, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “It’s a hard sell to suggest that adults using e-cigarettes with the goal of quitting smoking need a cartoon character emblazoned across the front of the product in order to do so successfully.”

The ATS applauds the FDA’s action and urges the agency to take further steps to ensure these, and all other illegally marketed tobacco products, are quickly removed from the U.S. market.