Across the entire e-cigarette category, Federal regulators are threatening to pull e-cigarettes from shelves if manufacturers do not control teen use, which officials say has reached epidemic levels.

“E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous — and dangerous — trend among teenagers,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. “The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end. The FDA cannot tolerate a whole generation of young people becoming addicted to nicotine as a trade-off for enabling adults to access these products.”

The e-cigarette craze has driven what's arguably the largest increase in teen nicotine use in decades after years of driving cigarette smoking rates to record lows. Teens who would have never smoked cigarettes are happily inhaling fruity flavours, sometimes without realizing it is packed with nicotine, an addictive substance. Middle school and high school students sneak the devices into schools and flaunt pictures of their vapes or of themselves performing tricks on Instagram.

The FDA is specifically ordering five brands — Juul, Vuse, MarkTen,  Blu and Logic — to submit plans within 60 days detailing how they will prevent teens from using their products. Between now and the 60-day mark, the FDA will investigate manufacturers' marketing and sales practices.

Juul dominates the e-vapes market representing about 72 percent of sales. Most Juul pods contain 5 percent nicotine, as much as a pack of cigarettes. Its eight flavours include sweet options like Crème Brulee, which critics say appeal to kids, not former adult smokers trying to quit.

Gottlieb said he believes certain flavours "are one of the principal drivers" of teen use. “And in view of the trends underway, we may take steps to curtail the marketing and selling of flavoured products. "We're committed to the comprehensive approach to address addiction to nicotine that we announced last year," Gottlieb said. "But at the same time, we see clear signs that youth use of electronic cigarettes has reached an epidemic proportion, and we must adjust certain aspects of our comprehensive strategy to stem this clear and present danger."