The Trump administration plans to ban sales of all flavored e-cigarette products amid a nationwide outbreak of a lung disease tied to vaping.

"What people are dying from or getting sick from are carts that are made in somebody's bathtub", said Ribble.

"I am deeply concerned about the growing epidemic of e-cigarette use in our children", the first lady tweeted earlier this week. "It will take several weeks for us to put out the final guidance" and until the effective date of the ban, he said.

Health officials don't know whether flavored products have contributed to more than 450 recent cases of lung disease, including six deaths.

On Wednesday, President Trump held a policy meeting at the White House to discuss national vaping guidelines amidst hundreds of cases of vaping-related illnesses across the United States.

Federal authorities have yet to identify a single substance common to all cases, but New York's health department is focusing its probe on counterfeit cannabis cartridges containing vitamin E oil which is harmful when inhaled.

The proposal announced by Trump officials would only apply to nicotine vaping products, which are regulated by the FDA.

The alarming rise in teen vaping has been linked to other flavors, such as fruit and menthol. Such "government overreach", the group said, will result in the closure of thousands of small vape shops and force many Americans "to switch back to deadly cigarettes". With the picture still murky, critics have seized the moment to press for tougher regulation of conventional e-cigarettes, which come in sweet and fruity flavors that have been favored by many young people.

But vape shop owners in Jacksonville decried the decision, saying the Centers for Disease Control has not answered questions about what exactly is causing the "vaping-related" deaths. "Moreover, if we see a migration to tobacco-flavored products by kids, we will take additional steps to address youth use of these products", Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless, said in a statement.

"There are very few people that are using things that are unflavored".

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A 2009 law banned all flavors from traditional cigarettes except menthol.

For vape shop owners, that means losing business. An August 8, a rule went into effect that requires the companies selling these products to file premarket tobacco product applications with the FDA within the next two years. However, Nikos says many people who are trying to quit smoking don't choose that flavor, because they are trying to get away from that taste altogether.

Juul, which has vehemently denied charges that it marketed its product to youths, did not immediately comment Wednesday.

"If we find that children start surging into tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes or if we find marketing practices that target children, we'll engage in enforcement actions there also", Azar said. But under agency standards, only products that represent a net benefit to the public health can win FDA clearance.

"We must act swiftly against flavored e-cigarette products that are especially attractive to children".

In recent days dozens of members, mostly Democrats, have called for a stronger response from the FDA.

First lady Melania Trump recently launched a "Be Best" campaign to help combat addiction and focus on children's health.

Several former White House officials, including communications aide Josh Raffel, and Johnny DeStefano, who served as counselor to Trump, have gone on to work for Juul.

Some 3.6 million middle and high school students used vaping products in 2018, an increase of 1.5 million on the year before. While thought to be harmless when used as a nutritional supplement, it could carry risks when inhaled and has been found in some products, said NY health officials.