Walgreens announced Monday that it will stop selling e-cigarettes.
The move comes on the heels of growing scrutiny of the industry following a series of vaping related illnesses and deaths.
Walgreens posted two sentences on its website about the measure: “We have made the decision to stop selling e-cigarette products at our stores nationwide as the CDC, FDA and other health officials continue to examine the issue. This decision is also reflective of developing regulations in a growing number of states and municipalities.”
Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso didn’t know how quickly e-cigarettes would be pulled from store shelves.
“I don’t have a timeframe to offer, but we plan to exit in an orderly manner,” he said.
The Deerfield-based company, which operates more than 9,500 stores in the U.S., still sells cigarettes.
Supermarket chain Kroger also announced Monday they would discontinue sales of e-cigarettes at their stores nationwide. The Cincinnati-based company, the parent company of Mariano’s, said it would stop selling e-cigarettes as soon as its current inventory runs out at its more than 2,700 stores and 1,500 fuel centers.
It’s main rival, CVS, stopped selling cigarettes in 2014 and has never sold e-cigarettes.
Contributing: Associated Press
