Over 60 U.S. Groups Urge FDA to Ban Menthol Cigarettes
In a November 10 letter to the FDA, the coalition wrote that scientific evidence clearly shows the availability of menthol cigarettes both increases smoking initiation and reduces the likelihood of quitting. Growing evidence also suggests that eliminating
In a letter to the FDA on November 10, the coalition wrote: "Scientific evidence clearly shows that the availability of menthol cigarettes increases the number of smokers and decreases the likelihood of quitting." "There is increasing evidence that eliminating menthol cigarettes would lead to many current menthol smokers quitting, rather than switching to non-menthol cigarettes."<\/span><\/div>
A press release from the ADA explained that the letter pointed out the following points:<\/span><\/div>
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"This increases the number of children trying smoking and the number becoming regular smokers."<\/span><\/div>
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Menthol cigarettes increase addiction and reduce quitting, severely harming the health of African Americans and exacerbating existing health disparities.<\/span><\/div>
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This could lead to "a significant number" of current menthol smokers quitting."<\/span><\/div>
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The coalition noted that importantly, the 2011 FDA Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee report recommended removing menthol cigarettes from the market, and the FDA itself has "consistently found scientific evidence that menthol is a characteristic flavoring in cigarettes that is harmful to public health."<\/span><\/div>
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In fact, as early as 2018, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb himself referred to the availability of menthol flavoring in tobacco products as a major issue. "Menthol is a significant problem," Gottlieb said at the time. "I don't think the tobacco industry should sell products that make it easy for kids to start using combustible cigarettes, even if they are not targeted at kids."<\/span><\/div>
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The FDA has been sued for failing to ban menthol.<\/span><\/div>
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Meanwhile, last June, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council jointly sued the FDA for failing to regulate menthol cigarettes, despite Congressional urging to do so. On September 3, the American Medical Association (AMA) joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff. ASH's executive lawyer Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy said: "The world is moving towards menthol."<\/span><\/div>
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AMA President Dr. Susan R. Bailey added that it is time for Big Tobacco to stop preying on African American communities. She stated: "For generations, tobacco companies have marketed menthol cigarettes to African American communities, particularly preying on young African Americans." "The results are clear and dire; although African Americans generally smoke less and start smoking at an older age, they are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases such as heart disease and stroke compared to whites."<\/span><\/div>
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