Lorillard Admits Flavored E-Cigarettes Attract Youth; FDA Should Prohibit Flavors As Part Of The Current Rulemaking

I just submitted this public comment on the FDA deeming rule (comment number 1jy-8cep-qnbg):
 
LORILLARD TOBACCO ADMITS THAT FLAVORED E-CIGARETTES ATTRACT YOUTH; FDA SHOULD USE THIS INFORMATION TO PROHIBIT FLAVORS AS PART OF THE CURRENT RULEMAKING
 
Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0189
 
May 31, 2014
 
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:
 

• "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.