The FDA has approved the sale of fruit-flavored vapes. What's behind the shift?

NPR's Leila Fadel asks Mitch Zeller, former director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, about the agency's approval of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes. LEILA FADEL, HOST: The FDA, for the first time, has approved the sale and the marketing of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes. The Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump called FDA Commissioner Marty Makary over the weekend and urged him to approve the products. Mitch Zeller is here to explain the science and the process behind this. He led the FDA tobacco regulation efforts for nearly a decade until 2022. Good morning, and welcome to the program. MITCH ZELLER: Thanks, Leila. Thanks for having me. FADEL: Mitch, let's start with the science. The FDA previously granted permission only for e-cigarettes flavored like tobacco or menthol. What's the basis of this new decision? ZELLER: Basis for the new decision is at least some evidence of benefit, that there's a certain number of current addicted cigarette smokers who in the real world would switch to this new product that has flavors that are appealing to kids. But the other critical component is the presence of what's called age-gating technology, technology that's built into the e-cigarette device that, in theory, would prevent a young person from being able to use the product, even if they got their hands on it. And my understanding is the way that it works is the adult that purchases the product has to go through some proof of age experience on an app. …