FDA Submits Menthol Ban to the White House for Review
The US Food and Drug Administration has moved one step closer to a comprehensive ban on menthol cigarettes and cigars. The ban is not expected to affect e-cigarette products, although many experts predict that a menthol combustible tobacco ban could push
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is one step closer to a complete ban on menthol cigarettes and cigars.
This ban is not expected to affect e-cigarette products, although many experts predict that the menthol combustible ban may lead some menthol smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. This is expected to be similar to what happened in the UK when menthol cigarettes were banned in 2020.
According to news reports, the agency submitted a proposal to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Thursday.
In 2020, regulators issued a "flavor ban" on e-cigarettes because they targeted middle school students. Now, public health officials argue that banning menthol (the last allowed non-tobacco flavor in cigarettes) will save lives.
In its proposal, the FDA provided evidence that menthol tobacco products are heavily marketed to minorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 85% of menthol smokers are Black, which has disproportionately harmed their health.
