Menthol cigarettes' risk greater, says FDA
Source: Agencies |
July 24, 2013, Wednesday
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A US Food and Drug Administration review concludes that menthol cigarettes likely pose a greater public health risk than regular cigarettes but does not make a recommendation on whether to limit or ban the minty smokes - one of the few growth sectors of the shrinking cigarette business.
The federal agency released the independent review yesterday and is seeking input from the health community, the tobacco industry and others on possible restrictions on the mint-flavored cigarettes.
The FDA concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that menthol cigarettes are more or less toxic or contribute to more disease risk to smokers than regular cigarettes.
However, there is adequate data to suggest that menthol use is likely associated with increased smoking initiation by younger people and that menthol smokers have a harder time quitting, the review said.
There's also evidence that menthol's cooling properties reduce the harshness of cigarette smoke, the review said.
"Menthol cigarettes raise critical public health questions," Mitch Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products, said.
Zeller said there's "no holdup" on the FDA proposing restrictions on menthol but that "some important questions" still need answered. The agency is commissioning further research.
The percentage of US cigarette smokers using menthol brands grew from 33.9 percent in 2008 to 37.5 percent in 2011, according to a study by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The move comes ahead of a deadline today for the US to respond to the World Trade Organization's findings last year that the FDA's ban on manufacturing, importing, marketing and distributing candy, fruit and clove-flavored tobacco breaks trade rules because it exempts menthol cigarettes, most of which are made in the US.
The federal agency released the independent review yesterday and is seeking input from the health community, the tobacco industry and others on possible restrictions on the mint-flavored cigarettes.
The FDA concluded that there is little evidence to suggest that menthol cigarettes are more or less toxic or contribute to more disease risk to smokers than regular cigarettes.
However, there is adequate data to suggest that menthol use is likely associated with increased smoking initiation by younger people and that menthol smokers have a harder time quitting, the review said.
There's also evidence that menthol's cooling properties reduce the harshness of cigarette smoke, the review said.
"Menthol cigarettes raise critical public health questions," Mitch Zeller, director of the Center for Tobacco Products, said.
Zeller said there's "no holdup" on the FDA proposing restrictions on menthol but that "some important questions" still need answered. The agency is commissioning further research.
The percentage of US cigarette smokers using menthol brands grew from 33.9 percent in 2008 to 37.5 percent in 2011, according to a study by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The move comes ahead of a deadline today for the US to respond to the World Trade Organization's findings last year that the FDA's ban on manufacturing, importing, marketing and distributing candy, fruit and clove-flavored tobacco breaks trade rules because it exempts menthol cigarettes, most of which are made in the US.
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