Flavor Ban? – ZampleTalk Episode 48
After years of worrying news about vaping regulation, the FDA did something in 2018 that felt different: it asked the public for input on flavors. In ZampleTalk Episode 48, Chris and James talked through what that meant and urged viewers to speak up.
Watch the video on the ZampleBox YouTube channel
The FDA wanted to hear from vapers
Scott Gottlieb, then the FDA commissioner, put out a statement asking for comments and opinions on flavors in tobacco products, vape juice included. The rules that came out of the process could have banned a lot of flavors, so we saw the comment period as a rare chance to be heard by a regulator.
We asked viewers to take a few minutes to tell the FDA how flavors had mattered to them. For many adult vapers who used to smoke, flavor is a big part of what drew them to vaping. The window to comment was short, and it closed long ago.
Chris and James also dug into the whole flavor ban debate and, half joking, shared what they would ban if they were emperors of the universe.
Also in this episode: Cali Steam
We talked with Cali Steam, one of our favorite e-liquid makers at the time, about what inspired them to start the company and what they might be working on next. If you enjoyed Toucan or any of their other vape juices, this part of the episode is worth a look. Cali Steam isn’t sold in our shop today, but you can read our Cali Steam review for our take on the line.
Where things stand now
Flavor rules have kept moving since 2018. Every vaping product now needs FDA premarket authorization through the PMTA process, and many applications are still under review. Flavor restrictions vary by state and city and change often, so check the rules where you live. For federal updates, see the FDA’s tobacco products site, and for more background, read our post on vaping deaths and the flavor ban.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.