FDA Intends to Ban All E-Cigarette Flavors, Including Menthol
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated its intention to ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors in cigars, including menthol. In a statement released today, the agency said it is working to issue propo
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expressed its intention to ban menthol as a characteristic flavor in cigarettes and all characteristic flavors in cigars (including menthol). The agency stated in a release today that it is working to propose product standards by next year.
The FDA wrote in its press release: “This decision is based on clear science and evidence that identifies the addictiveness and harm of these products, and builds on previous significant actions taken in 2009 to ban other flavored cigarettes,” the FDA stated in its press release.
FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock stated: “Banning menthol in cigarettes (the last allowed flavor in cigarettes) and banning all flavors in cigars will help save lives, especially among those most affected by these deadly products.”
“Through these actions, the FDA will help significantly reduce youth initiation rates, increase the chances for current smokers to quit, and address the health disparities experienced by people of color, low-income populations, and LGBTQ+ individuals who are more likely to use these tobacco products.”
According to the FDA, there is strong evidence that banning menthol will help people quit smoking. The agency stated: “Research shows that menthol increases the appeal of tobacco and promotes the progression to regular smoking, especially among young people. Menthol masks the unpleasant taste and harshness of tobacco products, making them easier to start using. Tobacco products with menthol can also enhance the effects of nicotine, making them more addictive and harder to quit.”
A study cited by the FDA indicated that banning menthol cigarettes in the U.S. would lead to an additional 923,000 smokers quitting, including 230,000 Black smokers in the first 13 to 17 months after the ban takes effect. An earlier study predicted that approximately 633,000 deaths would be avoided, including about 237,000 Black deaths.
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