Flavored vapes led to a major shake-up at the FDA – 3 health policy analysts explain the science behind the controversial products

There are currently 45 approved vaping products in the U.S. Most are tobacco- or menthol-flavored; only two are fruit-flavored. Roman Mykhalchuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

The resignation of Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on May 12, 2026, brought to the forefront a heated controversy over fruit-flavored nicotine vapes.

Rumors had been circulating for weeks that President Donald Trump was planning to fire Makary, in large part due to Makary’s disagreement with Trump over the FDA’s recent approval of two fruit-flavored vapes. Makary reportedly disagreed in private with the FDA’s decision, which came soon after Trump pushed the FDA to move more quickly in approving fruit-flavored vapes.