FDA Warns 5 Companies for Attempt to Target Minors

On Nov.16, 2022, US FDA issued warning letters to 5 vape companies on their 15 products that might be alluring to minors.

Each e-cigarette product is packaged to look like toys, food, or cartoon characters and is likely to promote use by youth. None of the manufacturers submitted a premarket application for any of the unauthorized products.

The unauthorized products described in the warning letters include e-cigarettes that:

• Are designed to look like toys and youth-appealing electronics like glow sticks, Nintendo Game Boy, and walkie-talkies;
• Feature youth-appealing characters from TV shows, movies, and video game characters, including “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “Squid Game,” “Rick and Morty,” “Minions,” and “Baby Bus;” or
• Imitate foods like popsicles.

"The designs of these products are an utterly flagrant attempt to target kids. 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.”

 

Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. 

The FDA issued warning letters to:

• Wizman Limited doing business as Wizvapor
• Shenzhen Fumot Technology Co., Ltd. doing business as R and M Vapes
• Shenzhen Quawins Technology Co., Ltd.
• Ruthless Vapor
• Moti Global

Brian King described such youth-targeting misconduct as “shameless” when he reiterated FDACTP's commitment to keeping tobacco products out of the hands of youth.

Reference: FDA Warns Firms for Selling Illegal E-cigarettes That Look Like Toys, Food, and Cartoon Characters