FDA might consider restrictions on menthol cigarettes

摘要

A report issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finds the public health risk of menthol cigarettes to be above and beyond that of non-menthol cigarettes. With the report's release on July 23, the FDA asked for public comment about what, if any, regulatory action it should take with respect to menthol in cigarettes. "Menthol cigarettes raise critical public health questions," FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, said in a statement. "The FDA is committed to a science-based approach that addresses the public health issues raised by menthol cigarettes, and public input will help us make more informed decisions about how best to tackle this important issue moving forward." How Committed to Action? But just how committed the FDA is to addressing public health issues surrounding menthol cigarettes remains to be seen. In 2011, the FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee issued a 231-page report docu-mentingthe adverse effects of menthol cigarettes on public health, but that documentdid not lead to agency action. In 2009, the FDA announced that it was banning all flavored cigarettes, except menthol, citing their allure for children. That announcement 4 years ago was applauded by many in the public health arena, but some public health advocates noted that the banned flavors made up only about 0.2% of the US cigarette market while menthol-flavored products accounted for about 25% of that market. And amongteen smokers, 81% of black teenagers smoked menthol cigarettes compared with 32% of white and 45% of Hispanic teenagers.