The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to four companies who manufacture flavored e-liquid products.
According to the FDA, influencers are posting about the e-cig “cartridges” in sponsored posts on social media without noting that nicotine is addictive, a warning that has been required on social media posts since last year. Similarly, the FTC claims the influencers’ failure to include warnings violates its prohibition against unfair or deceptive practices.
These letters come as part of the FDA’s campaign to crack down on teen e-cig use. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students used e-cigs in 2018. Reuters recently reported on how Phillip Morris International has used young personalities on Instagram to sell a new kind of e-cig product.
Companies hit with the warnings include Solace Vapor, Hype City Vapors, Humble Juice Co., and Artist Liquid Labs. They were asked to reply to the concerns raised by the FDA and FTC within 15 days.
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