WASHINGTON, DC – After more than 400 patients have been diagnosed with a mysterious illness linked to vaping, the Trump Administration today announced it is considering a proposed ban on thousands of flavors used in e-cigarettes.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed is strongly urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the sale of flavored vape products.

“It sounds like the Trump Administration is taking a tentative step forward, and I will strongly support them if they follow through,” said Senator Reed.  “There are profound health risks from smoking e-cigarettes.  For too long these addictive, often candy-flavored nicotine products have been targeted and marketed to children and they are literally poisoning America’s youth.  I urge the Trump Administration to crackdown on e-cigs and help educate the public about the serious health risks they pose.”

The FDA, the federal agency in charge of regulating e-cigarettes, estimates that over 3.6 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2018.  And a 2013-14 survey on e-cigarette noted that four out of five young e-cigarette users said the appealing flavor options were a major reason for their use.

Senator Reed has long championed tobacco control efforts, including supporting the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which provided the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with broad regulatory authority over tobacco products, and became law in 2009.  At Senator Reed’s urging, FDA finalized a rule in 2016 that extends its tobacco authority to cover additional products, such as electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and waterpipes.  In addition, Senator Reed has long urged FDA to prevent youth use of e-cigarette products by banning flavors and prohibiting marketing to children.