In a separate case of the relationship between influencers, social media and the promotion of tobacco and related products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned several vaping companies about its use of social media influencers to promote their flavored nicotine products. The FDA sent warning letters to Solace Technologies LLC, Hype City Vapors, LLC, Humble Juice Co, LLC, and Artist Liquids Laboratories, LLC for posting content that promoted flavored e-liquid products or recommended their social media followers try the products without including the required nicotine warning statement, “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”
According to the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the absence of this statement violated section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive advertising.
“These letters are a reminder that companies who use social media influencers to promote their products must comply with all applicable advertising requirements,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Moreover, ads must disclose material health or safety risks – in this case, the fact that nicotine is highly addictive.”
You can read the full press release from the FDA on the warning letters relating to social media use here. To read more about PRWeek‘s investigation into social media influencers and their relationship with Big Tobacco, click here.
