FDA Bans Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars

The FDA proposed a rule to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars yesterday. According to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf “through careful consideration of the scientific evidence and our authorities under the tobacco control act, we’ve determined that these actions are appropriate for protection of the public health.” Menthol is an equity issue that the FDA has been considering for more than a decade and is the last special flavor allowed in cigarettes in the United States. All other flavors were banned in 2009 in the Tobacco Control Act. That law also required the FDA to conduct and fund research on menthol. Currently, about 18.6 million people smoke menthols in the United States which is about 36% of all smokers.