Feds seize vape products from Bensenville warehouse

Federal authorities Wednesday seized $14 million worth of what they say are illegal vaping product supplies from a Bensenville warehouse.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, standing by a display of some of the items, said the materials were produced in China and “smuggled” into the United States, evading federal regulations regarding disclosing what chemicals are in the products.

The seizure at Midwest Goods, also known as Midwest Distribution, was part of a national campaign carried out Wednesday in five states at distributors and stores.

She said the sellers of vaping products target children, young adults and U.S. military personnel.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that during the administration of President Joseph Biden, the FDA slowed the approval of U.S.-made vaping products. That created a vacuum that let Chinese-made products flood the market. He said the Chinese products may contain formaldehyde, and that the products are illegal in China.

“They are making products that are making the Chinese richer and our children sicker,” Kennedy said.

Bondi and Kennedy pointed out the seized items included products labeled “Cotton Candy” and “Watermelon Ice,” saying they are targeted at children. The FDA does not give approval to flavored vape products other than menthol.

The search is part of a civil investigation.

Officials from Midwest Goods could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

However, they gave a written statement to ABC7 Chicago.

The statement says the items seized were bottles of liquid refills, and that some of them had been waiting as long as five years for FDA premarket approval of applications, and that the FDA has been allowing sales of those products while the applications are pending. It also said that after an FDA inspection of the warehouse in August, it had removed some products from its catalog and offered to stop selling others. The FDA never replied, according to Midwest.

“We find FDA's actions particularly troubling given reports earlier this week that FDA plans to expedite within a matter of months reviews of several tobacco products manufactured by Big Tobacco companies,” the statement said. It also said that it has heard tobacco companies are marketing vaping products that lack premarket authorization.

“Nevertheless, Midwest intends to continue to cooperate with federal authorities and, if necessary, to vindicate our rights in court.”