Warning from US Association to ELFBAR, $10,000 Donation Rejected

Market
Feb.16.2023
The American Cancer Society (ACS) said the Lighthouse Guardian Program on ELFBAR's website mistakenly used the ACS trademark to imply a partnership with Elfbar. As a result, ELFBAR's official website has deleted all relevant content.

On February 14, the American Cancer Society (ACS) revealed to the American media Stat that the Lighthouse Guardian Program on ELFBAR's official website wrongly used the ACS trademark, which implies that it has a partnership with ELFBAR. As a result, the official website of ELFBAR has replaced all content containing the name of ACS with "non-profit organization." Still, the relevant content in its Facebook post has yet to be deleted or changed.

 

In January this year, ELFBAR launched the Lighthouse Guardian Program to prevent youth from using e-cigarettes. Its official website claims that as long as users click the "Join to Light" button, ELFBAR will donate 10 cents to ACS (the currency on the official website is now converted to British pounds). After clicking the button, the users must leave their mailbox number and a message to ELFBAR. Then the button's content becomes "Thank you for lighting up."

 

Warning from US Association to ELFBAR, $10,000 Donation Rejected
Warning from US Association to ELFBAR, $10,000 Donation Rejected

 

According to Stat, the CEO of ELFBAR said at a conference that "this project has raised more than $10,000 for ACS." However, ACS stated that it never agreed to work with ELFBAR and would not accept donations from it. ACS has now sent a letter to ELFBAR to warn it of its off-shelf-related marketing strategies to distance itself from its relationship with ELFBAR. Timothy Phillips, ACS' chief legal officer, declined to be interviewed by the media.

 

Earlier this month, ELFBAR was exposed in the UK that the nicotine content of its Elfbar 600 watermelon-flavored disposable e-cigarette exceeded the standard. At present, more than half of the supermarkets in the UK have removed the products involved from shelves.


In addition, Reynolds Tobacco (the parent company of VUSE e-cigarettes) recently submitted a "citizen petition" to the US FDA, requesting a crackdown on the proliferation of disposable e-cigarettes such as ELFBAR in the United States.

 

2Firsts will continue to pay attention to this incident and continue to try to contact the two parties involved, so stay tuned.

 

Reference: Vape maker Elf Bar wants to donate to the American Cancer Society, but it doesn't want tobacco money

 

*The content of this article is written after the extraction, compilation and integration of multiple information for exchange and learning purposes. The copyright of the summary information still belongs to the original article and its author. If any infringement is found, please contact us to delete it. 

BAT Shares Surge Nearly 6% as FDA Policy Shift Eases Pressure on Vuse and Velo
BAT Shares Surge Nearly 6% as FDA Policy Shift Eases Pressure on Vuse and Velo
British American Tobacco (BAT) shares rose sharply on May 12 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled it would deprioritize enforcement against certain unauthorized e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products with accepted premarket applications. Investors viewed the move as favoring established players such as BAT’s Vuse and Velo brands.
BAT
May.13
 FDA Begins Review of 22nd Century’s VLN MRTP Renewal Applications
FDA Begins Review of 22nd Century’s VLN MRTP Renewal Applications
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated scientific review of renewal applications for 22nd Century Group’s VLN reduced-nicotine cigarettes under the Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) pathway, with current authorizations set to expire in December 2026.
News
May.13
CBP and FDA Seize 18 Million Illegal Vapes Worth $175 Million in Maritime Cargo Operation
CBP and FDA Seize 18 Million Illegal Vapes Worth $175 Million in Maritime Cargo Operation
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that more than 18 million illegal e-cigarettes valued at over $175 million were seized during “Operation Red Mist,” a joint enforcement initiative involving the U.S. Coast Guard and the FDA. The operation primarily targeted maritime vape shipments originating from China and focused on combating illicit importation, transportation, and distribution activities.
Regulations
May.14
Exclusive | TPE 2026 Cools as Caution Deepens in the U.S. Vape Market
Exclusive | TPE 2026 Cools as Caution Deepens in the U.S. Vape Market
The show had become an important check-in point for Chinese manufacturers and brand owners looking for signs of change in the U.S. market after months of softer demand. Instead, participants said the event highlighted a more restrained mood: traffic in the vape section was uneven, standout launches were limited, and conversations often failed to turn into orders.
Special Report
Apr.12
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA CTP issued a May 7 statement on accelerating product review and improving PMTA efficiency, but did not push it via official X and newsletter until May 13, one day after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation was confirmed. FDA has not explained the delay, and no public evidence links it directly to the leadership change. The timing is notable given CTP’s usual 24-hour distribution practice.
Special Report
May.14
U.S. Senator Durbin Criticizes FDA’s First Flavored Vape Authorization, Says Trump Administration Conceded to Big Tobacco
U.S. Senator Durbin Criticizes FDA’s First Flavored Vape Authorization, Says Trump Administration Conceded to Big Tobacco
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin on May 13 criticized the Trump Administration’s Food and Drug Administration for approving the sale and marketing of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for the first time, while also allowing some illegal vaping products to remain on the market. He also linked the regulatory shift to the departure of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, saying White House pressure on regulators to approve tobacco product applications could create serious public-health consequences.
Regulations
May.15