The Food and Drug Administration warned eight online retailers and one manufacturer for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products.
The warning letters, sent Thursday, cited a range of popular youth-appealing e-cigarette products, including disposable products from Geek Bar and Lost Mary, the FDA said. Findings from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that 5.8% of current youth e-cigarette users reported using products under the Geek Bar brand.
Other unauthorized products cited include the names and/or images of celebrities, the agency said.
The companies that received warning letters sold or distributed e-cigarettes that lack authorization from the FDA to be legally marketed in the U.S., which is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The companies were warned to address any violations that are like those stated in the warning letter and to take the necessary actions to comply with the law, the agency said. Failure to do so could result in additional FDA action such as injunctions, seizure or civil money penalties.
To date, the FDA has issued more than 700 warning letters to companies for manufacturing or distributing illegal e-cigarette products and devices. It has also issued more than 800 warning letters to retailers for the sale of unauthorized tobacco products, filed civil money penalty complaints against more than 83 manufacturers and more than 175 retailers for distribution or sale of unauthorized tobacco products.
As of Thursday, the FDA has authorized 34 e-cigarette products and devices.
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