Flavored Cigarettes banned by FDA

With its new regulatory powers under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act signed into law in June, the FDA yesterday announced a ban on cigarette flavorings such as clove, fruit, or candy. The measure is part of an effort to make smoking less appealing and less available to children, whereby reducing the number of children who start to smoke. According to the FDA, studies have shown that 17-year old smokers are three times as likely to use flavored cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25. The FDA is also examining options for regulating menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes. However, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free kids indicated in a recent press release the troubling fact that some tobacco companies are already developing products that strategically dodge the new FDA-regulations.

A strong supporter of the legislation is David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, President, of American Academy of Pediatrics, who indicates, "Smoking is a pediatric disease. Almost all adult smokers start smoking during or prior to their teen years. Every day, 1,000 children become regular smokers and, sadly, one-third of these children will die early from tobacco-related disease. Another 3 million American youth are already habitual smokers.

Dr. Tayloe continues, "The Academy believes that the strongest possible tobacco regulation is necessary to protect our children and adolescents. We urge the FDA to act quickly to expand the ban on flavored cigarettes to all other flavored tobacco products-including smokeless tobacco products-that contribute to the deadly toll of tobacco-related disease on our nation's children and adolescents."

Click here to read FDA press release

Click here to read more about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act