Juul stops online sales of fruit and dessert flavors

Juul will no longer sell fruit and dessert flavors for its e-cigarettes online, the company announced yesterday. The voluntary move comes amid increased scrutiny on the company’s marketing tactics, especially toward youths, and a proposed federal ban on flavored products. Many states, including Oregon and Michigan, are already attempting to implement temporary bans. A spate of vaping-related illnesses — nearly 1,500 at last count — is also fueling further examination of the products. Still, mint and menthol are Juul’s most popular flavors, and so stopping online sales of these other flavors — mango, crème, fruit, and cucumber — is unlikely to satisfy critics. These flavors were pulled from stores last November. 

At the same time, a new poll released yesterday found that only a narrow majority of people — 52% — supported a ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Nearly two-thirds of young adults ages 18-29 were against banning e-cigarettes, flavored or otherwise.