Overview
- Attorney General Keith Ellison filed the lawsuit in Ramsey County this week, accusing Maduro Distributors Inc., which markets vapes as Loon, of designing and selling products that appeal to minors.
- The complaint names flavors such as Cotton Candy, Strawberry Popsicle, Banana Taffy and Blue Razz Slushy and says Loon used kid-friendly characters and imagery to market those products.
- Ellison's office also alleges Loon misled consumers by labeling products as “accepted for approval” by the FDA even though none of its products have been authorized for sale by federal regulators.
- The suit seeks a permanent injunction to stop sales in Minnesota, civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, restitution or disgorgement and recovery of attorneys' fees.
- The action follows an August 2024 warning letter and a January 2025 investigation and builds on a 2024 Minnesota law that bans 'deceptive vapor products' that use flavors, terms or characters commonly marketed to youth, with federal FDA guidance on flavored e-cigarettes providing a changing regulatory backdrop.