Just last month, Juul, the popular nicotine vaporizer, decided to cease sale all its fruit flavors – creme, mango, fruit, cucumber. Now, in another effort to stay ahead federal action, the company has made the decision to remove its popular mint flavor from retailers. Now, only tobacco and menthol remain.
The move comes following research published in the Journal the American Medical Association that showed mint was the most popular flavor among 10th and 12th grade Juul users. More than 40% said it was their most frequently used variety pod. Even middle schoolers were found to be using the mint variety.
Juul cannot legally be sold to anyone under the age 18.
Chief Executive K.C. Crosthwaite called the results those studies “unacceptable” in announcing the move.
“We must reset the vapor category in the U.S. and earn the trust society by working cooperatively with regulators, Attorneys General, public health ficials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use,” said Crosthwaite.
Juul has faced a considerable amount public scrutiny over the past few months, stemming largely from reports that vaping was causing a string deaths. Though the deaths were eventually attributed to toxic metals found in bootleg cannabis cartridges, the damage to Juul’s reputation had already been done.
San Francisco banned the sale Juul outright in June; Michigan attempted to ban the sale flavored pods before Juul itself took them f the market, though the ban was eventually blocked by a judge two weeks after it went into effect. In September, Juul CEO Kevin Burns resigned.
Will the decision to halt sales mint pods be the final nail in Juul’s cfin? That remains to be seen, but it’s a very real possibility.
H/T Reuters