Juul stops selling mint-flavored vape pods in U.S., keeps menthol

Juul Labs Inc. said Thursday that it will halt U.S. sales of its best-selling mint-flavored electronic cigarettes as it struggles to survive a nationwide backlash against vaping.

The voluntary step came days after new government research showed that Juul is the top brand among high school students who use e-cigarettes and that many prefer the mint flavor.

“These results are unacceptable,� Juul Chief Executive K.C. Crosthwaite said in a statement, adding that the company must “earn the trust of society.�

Underage vaping has reached what health officials call epidemic levels. In the latest government survey, 1 in 4 high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the previous month, despite federal law banning sales to those younger than 18.

Under fire for its alleged role in sparking the vaping craze among teens, Juul has made a series of concessions to try to weather — or perhaps forestall — a crackdown from local, state and federal officials. It stopped selling its popular fruit and dessert flavors in stores last year. Last month, it stopped selling them online too.

This fall, the company replaced its CEO and pledged to stop advertising its products. Juul has argued for years that its e-cigarettes are intended to help adult smokers switch to a less harmful nicotine product. But its early marketing campaigns were mainly on social media and featured young, stylish models. The company has since closed its U.S. Facebook and Instagram accounts.

After halting mint sales, Juul will sell only menthol and tobacco flavors. Mint and menthol accounted for nearly 60% of the company’s retail sales in the last year, according to data compiled by Wells Fargo analyst Bonnie Herzog.

Fruit, candy, dessert and other flavors of e-cigarettes have been targeted because of their appeal to underage users. Federal health officials are expected to soon release plans for removing most vaping flavors from the market, and Juul has said it will support and comply with that government policy.

In September, President Trump said the flavor ban would include mint and menthol flavors. However, no details have yet been released, leading vaping opponents to worry that the administration is backing away from its original plan.

Representatives for those groups criticized Juul on Thursday for continuing to sell its menthol flavor.

“If they really wanted to keep the kids away they would also get rid of menthol,� said Meredith Berkman of Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes. “We hope the administration will understand that too — they should be taking menthol off the market.�

Mint and menthol have often been treated interchangeably by vaping researchers.

But a new study released Monday suggests menthol doesn’t have the same appeal as mint. The study found that mint was the most popular flavor among Juul users in 10th and 12th grades and the second-most popular among middle school students. In contrast, less than 6% of teenagers across all grades preferred menthol. The study by USC researchers was based on a survey that included 1,800 Juul users.

Flavors have been banned from traditional cigarettes in the U.S. since 2009, except for menthol.

San Francisco-based Juul is the best-selling e-cigarette brand in the United States. The privately held company — owned in part by Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group Inc. — has been besieged by legal troubles, including multiple investigations by Congress, federal agencies and several state attorneys general. The company is also being sued by adults and underage Juul users who claim they became addicted to nicotine through the company’s products.

E-cigarettes typically heat a solution that contains nicotine, which makes cigarettes and e-cigarettes addictive.