Submitted by Armen Hareyan on Jun 6th, 2008
Menthol cigarettes will not be banned by a newly introduced legislation, but health officials are urging that these tobacco products pose health risk and don't deserve a special treatment.
A new bill on Menthol cigarettes, passed by House and Senate committees and pending for Congress approval, bans flavored cigarettes, such as strawberry, chocolate, fruit, candy and spice flavorings, but allows menthol ones. Several former government health officials - including former US health secretary Joseph Califano Jr., Tommy G. Thompson, Donna E. Shalala, Richard S. Schweicker, Dr. Otis R. Bowen, F. David Matthews - urge lawmakers to restrict menthol cigarette production as well.
This new legislation would allow FDA to regulate tobacco industry: to approve tobacco ingredients, to allow introduction or advertisements of tobacco products. However, the bill doesn't allow the agency to ban cigarettes entirely. At this point, menthol cigarettes will be banned only if FDA confirms that these cigarettes pose health risk.
One out of 5 deaths in US is caused by tobacco, and health officials are looking for ways of how to ban smoking. Menthol cigarettes currently take more than the quarter of entire market and 80% blacks, teenagers and new smokers smoke these cigarettes. This is why the law is being considered as clear discrimination towards blacks by Joseph Califano Jr. It is also considered as a low protecting tobacco company interests.
Menthol cigarettes give cool taste to mouth and don't allow to feel the real taste of tobacco. This is why the most of new smokers and teen smokers prefer these cigarettes. However, there are serious health risks.
The most popular menthol cigarette in US is Lorillard's Newport. The next top selling brand is Philip Morris's Marlboro Menthol. Philip Morris completely agrees with the new bill, although most of other tobacco companies don't. Health officials also oppose the legislation, saying that it will not be able to ensure that tobacco products may become safer. However, the bill still doesn't ban menthol cigarettes, saying that later FDA will be able to prove it poses health risk and only then ban it.
Source:
Ruzanna Haroutiunyan 