FDA Orders Juul to Remove Its E-Cigarette Products Over Safety Concerns

Teenagers and adults who are hooked on Juul’s compact e-cigarettes might have to search for alternatives.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday ordered Juul to remove all of its e-cigarette products from the U.S. market. It was one of the most sweeping actions the FDA has taken against vaping products in recent years.  

In its announcement, the agency said that Juul provided “insufficient and conflicting data” on potentially harmful chemicals leaching from the refill pods.

“Today’s action is further progress on the FDA’s commitment to ensuring that all e-cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system products currently being marketed to consumers meet our public health standards,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD, said in a press release.

Regulators have blamed Juul for encouraging youth vaping with its marketing of the sleek USB-like device and flavored nicotine pods. In 2019, Juul stopped selling its sweet and fruity flavored pods and halted its marketing campaigns that were said to target young users.

Research has shown that Juul’s products contain high levels of nicotine—packing around 40 milligrams of nicotine in a pod, the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes.

In a 2018 survey, some young users believed that pod-based e-cigarettes like Juul were less harmful than other products, but the high nicotine content can be extremely addictive. And studies have linked e-cigarette use to increased odds of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to the latest national survey on youth tobacco use, e-cigarette use among middle- and high-school students who reported current tobacco use had dropped from 20% in 2019 to 7.6% in 2021.

Still, more than 2 million U.S. youth currently use e-cigarettes. Among those who do use vaping products, about two in five report vaping frequently, suggesting a strong dependence on nicotine. Many students also cite feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed as reasons for using e-cigarettes.

The survey also showed that Puff Bar, a disposable e-cigarette that comes in a wide range of flavors, is now the most popular vaping brand among teenagers, followed by Vuse, SMOK, Juul, and Suorin.

The FDA has been making bold attempts to reduce nicotine use and addiction. Earlier this week, the agency said it plans to set a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products.