The Food and Drug Administration has authorized its first fruit-flavored vaping products for adults and is scrapping a proposed ban on minors using tanning beds, marking a sharp pivot in federal health policy. Public health experts warn the moves risk weakening protections against addictive and high-risk products.
The changes come during what Axios terms the "MAHA era," reflecting a tumultuous shift in agency priorities. Former FDA commissioner Marty Makary reportedly resisted approving the flavored vapes before reversing course under White House pressure, a factor that contributed to his ouster.
Rich Danker, chief spokesperson for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigned in protest over the vape decision Wednesday, according to a letter obtained by the New York Times. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposed the approval of fruit-flavored vapes.
Industry groups are likely to welcome the looser regulatory stance, while public health advocates fear it emboldens companies marketing to teens. The FDA signaled it won't prioritize enforcement against some unauthorized products, further concerning critics.
For now, the path forward remains contentious. Former FDA tobacco center head Mitch Zeller has warned the agency is abandoning its protective mission, though HHS referred questions to the FDA's press release.