(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to crack down on companies selling electronic cigarette products that haven't been unauthorized.
In its latest action, the FDA issued a warning letter to a firm that has more than 15 million products listed with the FDA. The problem? At least some of those products had not been authorized for sale.
Because these products, which included nicotine liquids that are meant to be used in e-cigarettes, are used for nicotine consumption, they have to receive authorization from the FDA before they can be sold or marketed.
Pennsylvania-based Visible Vapors LLC was only the latest company to receive a warning letter like this from the FDA. In the first six months of 2021, the agency issued 131 warning letters to companies for selling more than 1,470,000 electronic nicotine delivery products that did not have authorization.
"The FDA wants all tobacco product manufacturers and retailers to know that we continue to watch the marketplace very closely and will hold companies accountable for breaking the law," said Mitch Zeller, JD, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in a press release.
The FDA said it would continue to enforce authorization rules for nicotine products, with a focus on those that may appeal to children and teens.
E-cigs are battery-powered devices that use a heated coil to vaporize a nicotine solution that the user inhales. The nicotine solutions often contain flavors that mimic fruits, candies and other appealing tastes.
Health officials have expressed concern that these products may appeal to younger people and encourage them to start using nicotine. While there is heated debate about whether e-cigs are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, the concern is that these products may cause younger users to become dependent on nicotine or even encourage them to move on to combustible tobacco.
Smoking has long been linked to a number of severe health effects, such as lung cancer, respiratory problems and heart disease.
For help kicking your nicotine habit for good, reach out to your health care provider. Many treatment strategies and even medications can make quitting nicotine easier.
