On April 23, 2014, Lorillard Inc.'s Youth Smoking Prevention Program posted a page on e-cigarettes on its "Real Parents Real Questions" website[1] that stated:
"Kids may be particularly vulnerable to trying e-cigarettes due to an abundance of fun flavors such as cherry, vanilla, pina-colada and berry."
It also stated:
Lorillard owns Blu e-cigarettes, a major source of TV advertising of e-cigarettes.
While the web page says in fine print at the bottom, "The content of this site reflects the views and professional opinions of Dr. Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D.," another page on the site states[2] that "Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D., is the longtime spokesperson for Lorillard’s Youth Smoking Prevention Program ... [emphasis added]."
The FDA should use this information to justify prohibiting the use and promotion of flavors in e-cigarettes as well as prohibit their advertising in broadcast media as part of the current rulemaking.
PDF copies of these web pages are appended to this comment in case Lorillard decides to remove these admissions.
[1] http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-e-cigarettes-infographic/
Accessed May 31, 2014.
[2] http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com/about-dr-popkin/ Accessed May 31, 2014.
It also stated:
- "For the first time, 'smoking' ads are returning to TV with advertising campaigns for e-cigarettes."
- "More than 1.78 million middle school and high school students have tried e-cigarettes since 2012"
- "Use of e-cigarettes has recently doubles among teens with 4.7% using them in 2011 and 10% using them in 2012."
Lorillard owns Blu e-cigarettes, a major source of TV advertising of e-cigarettes.
While the web page says in fine print at the bottom, "The content of this site reflects the views and professional opinions of Dr. Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D.," another page on the site states[2] that "Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D., is the longtime spokesperson for Lorillard’s Youth Smoking Prevention Program ... [emphasis added]."
The FDA should use this information to justify prohibiting the use and promotion of flavors in e-cigarettes as well as prohibit their advertising in broadcast media as part of the current rulemaking.
PDF copies of these web pages are appended to this comment in case Lorillard decides to remove these admissions.
[1] http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-e-cigarettes-infographic/
Accessed May 31, 2014.
[2] http://www.realparentsrealanswers.com/about-dr-popkin/ Accessed May 31, 2014.
When the e-cigarette was first introduced, it was marketed as a tool to help traditional smokers decrease their nicotine intake and break their habits. However, e-cigarette companies knew that to increase their profits, they had to increase their clientele. This is when they began to target young adults as potential customers. Their plan was to attract adolescents to e-cigarettes and convert them loyal consumers. E-cigarette companies use artificial flavors like cherry, vanilla, and berry to attract young customers. If not for these flavored additives, companies would have an extremely difficult time attracting young customers. Lorillard Inc., the owner of Blu e-cigarettes has openly confessed to this. The ultimate goal of e-cigarette companies can be to potentially create new generations of nicotine addicts. Adolescents who never experimented with e-cigarettes are now becoming unexpected victims of the device.
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