Story perspectives

FDA Approves Blueberry, Mango Vapes Despite Youth Risks

5/9/2026

Left

FDA Approves Flavors

The FDA approved blueberry and mango flavored e-cigarettes from a California firm, despite a memo limiting flavors to mint, tea, spices.
The FDA’s decision expands the market for flavored vaping products, raising concerns about youth exposure.
White House pressure, backed by tobacco donors, pushed Dr. Marty Makary to approve the new flavors.
Biotech firms warned that recent FDA rejections of rare-disease therapies could jeopardize patient access.

Right

Makary Under Fire

Health and Human Services officials urged FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s removal, calling his leadership a liability for the administration.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on a plan to fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, per the Wall Street Journal.
Pro-life groups condemned Makary for not tightening mifepristone regulations, urging his dismissal.
Make America Healthy Again defended Makary, accusing Big Pharma and media of plotting his removal.

Blindspot

Right coverage emphasized the Make America Healthy Again supporters defending Makary and accusing Big Pharma and the media of a campaign to remove him, a detail that Left coverage gave less weight to.
Right also noted Makary’s personnel cuts and stricter review standards slowing new drug and gene-therapy approvals, an angle that Left covered only through broader biotech-innovation concerns.

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FDA Approves Flavors

The FDA approved blueberry and mango flavored e-cigarettes from a California firm, despite a memo limiting flavors to mint, tea, spices.
The FDA’s decision expands the market for flavored vaping products, raising concerns about youth exposure.
White House pressure, backed by tobacco donors, pushed Dr. Marty Makary to approve the new flavors.
Biotech firms warned that recent FDA rejections of rare-disease therapies could jeopardize patient access.

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