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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The FDA has authorized three new JUUL2 e-cigarette products — a tobacco-flavored pod, a menthol-flavored pod, and the JUUL2 device — marking another step in the agency's push to offer lower-risk alternatives to traditional cigarettes. The menthol pod showed stronger smoking cessation results among adults than the tobacco pod. The newly cleared pods contain roughly 1.5%–1.6% nicotine concentration.
The FDA has authorized three new JUUL2 e-cigarette products through its premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process: a tobacco-flavored pod, a menthol-flavored pod, and the JUUL2 device itself. The agency's review found that a substantial share of adult smokers switched from combustible cigarettes to these products, with the menthol pod outperforming the tobacco pod in driving that switch.
The FDA acknowledged the youth appeal risk of menthol-flavored products but concluded that the benefit to adult smokers outweighs it. This approval comes just days after the agency also authorized Philip Morris' ZYN Ultra nicotine pouches, signaling a broader regulatory trend toward greenlighting reduced-risk nicotine alternatives.
Juul, which once dominated the U.S. vaping market before a federal marketing ban in 2022 (later rescinded in 2024), is now rebuilding its product portfolio. CEO K.C. Crosthwaite said the company plans to file for additional products, including 5% nicotine concentrations and a range of flavored varieties.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: The FDA's continued authorization of reduced-risk nicotine products reflects an evolving regulatory stance on harm reduction — but the inclusion of menthol flavoring reignites debate over balancing adult cessation benefits against youth vaping risks.
