FDA Restarts US Effort to Ban Menthol Cigarettes
2021-05-02
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1American health officials are again promising to seek a ban on menthol cigarettes.
2This time, they are under pressure from African American groups to remove the menthol taste popular among Black smokers.
3The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tried several times to ban menthol cigarettes, also known as menthols.
4But it faced major opposition from the tobacco industry, some lawmakers and interest groups under the two former administrations.
5Any menthol ban will take years to go into effect and will likely face lawsuits from tobacco companies.
6The FDA's announcement Thursday is the result of legal action in 2020 by anti-smoking and medical groups.
7The groups argued that officials had "unreasonably delayed" answering a 2013 petition seeking a menthol ban.
8The agency said it aims to launch measures banning menthols in the coming year.
9The action would also ban tobaccos made to taste like fruit.
10Such products are becoming more popular with young people, especially young Black people.
11Mitch Zeller leads the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products.
12He said in a statement: "Taken together, these policies will help save lives and improve the public health of our country."
13Zeller noted that smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S.
14Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that was not banned under a 2009 law that gave the FDA power over tobacco products.
15But the law did require the agency to continue to consider such a ban.
16Anti-smoking activists are angry that menthol products are still on the market.
17They point to research that menthol's cooling effect suppresses a smoker's sense of pain.
18The research says this likely makes it easier to start and harder to stop.
19The mint-flavored cigarettes are mostly used by young people and people of color.
20About 85 percent of Black smokers smoke menthols.
21About one-third of white smokers do as well.
22"The science is there, the data is there, so why are these products still on the market?" Carol McGruder told the Associated Press.
23McGruder is a founding member of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council.
24Her group launched a lawsuit with Action on Smoking and Health, the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association (NMA).
25The NMA represents Black doctors.
26For many years, tobacco companies marketed their menthol cigarettes to Black communities.
27Their campaigns included financing music performances and neighborhood events.
28Company documents released through the 1990s lawsuits also show the companies saw menthols as good "starter" products as they appealed to teens.
29In the late 1990s, new restrictions banned cigarette ads from billboards, public transport and most tobacco-financed events.
30Companies moved much of their marketing to places like gas stations and small neighborhood markets.
31Research has shown both kinds of businesses are heavily present in Black neighborhoods.
32About one-third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. are menthols so a ban would hurt tobacco industry profits.
33As smoking has decreased in America, tobacco companies have been pushing similar products, including electronic cigarettes.
34But those still make up a very small percentage of industry sales.
35Reynolds American makes the popular menthol cigarette Newport.
36In a statement, it said public science does not support treating menthol cigarettes differently from non-menthol.
37The Altria corporation owns several tobacco product companies.
38It sharply criticized the FDA proposal, which it described as "criminalizing menthol."
39Smoking causes cancer, strokes and heart attacks and is blamed for 480,000 deaths each year.
40About 14 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes, with rates around the same between white and Black populations.
41But Black smokers are less likely to effectively stop smoking, which the U.S. Surgeon General and others have linked to menthol cigarettes.
42Menthol is a chemical compound found naturally in mint plants.
43But it can be produced in a laboratory.
44Known for its cooling effect, the chemical is also used in some medicines.
45Cigarette makers began adding the chemical in the 1920s after realizing it reduced the burning feeling smokers can experience.
46Past government efforts against menthol have faced resistance from lawmakers in tobacco states like North Carolina.
47But some members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who received campaign donations from cigarette companies also opposed the ban.
48Some CBC members warned that banning menthol would create an illegal market for the products.
49And they said it might lead to increased law enforcement in Black communities.
50Yet calls for action have been growing.
51And last year the House of Representatives voted to ban the flavor with support from most Black members.
52The bill was ignored in the Republican-controlled Senate after President Trump made clear he opposed the measure.
53I'm Dorothy Gundy.
54And I'm Alice Bryant.
1American health officials are again promising to seek a ban on menthol cigarettes. This time, they are under pressure from African American groups to remove the menthol taste popular among Black smokers. 2The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tried several times to ban menthol cigarettes, also known as menthols. But it faced major opposition from the tobacco industry, some lawmakers and interest groups under the two former administrations. Any menthol ban will take years to go into effect and will likely face lawsuits from tobacco companies. 3The FDA's announcement Thursday is the result of legal action in 2020 by anti-smoking and medical groups. The groups argued that officials had "unreasonably delayed" answering a 2013 petition seeking a menthol ban. 4The agency said it aims to launch measures banning menthols in the coming year. 5The action would also ban tobaccos made to taste like fruit. Such products are becoming more popular with young people, especially young Black people. 6Mitch Zeller leads the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. He said in a statement: "Taken together, these policies will help save lives and improve the public health of our country." Zeller noted that smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S. 7Menthol is the only cigarette flavor that was not banned under a 2009 law that gave the FDA power over tobacco products. But the law did require the agency to continue to consider such a ban. 8Anti-smoking activists are angry that menthol products are still on the market. They point to research that menthol's cooling effect suppresses a smoker's sense of pain. The research says this likely makes it easier to start and harder to stop. The mint-flavored cigarettes are mostly used by young people and people of color. About 85 percent of Black smokers smoke menthols. About one-third of white smokers do as well. 9"The science is there, the data is there, so why are these products still on the market?" Carol McGruder told the Associated Press. McGruder is a founding member of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. 10Her group launched a lawsuit with Action on Smoking and Health, the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association (NMA). The NMA represents Black doctors. 11For many years, tobacco companies marketed their menthol cigarettes to Black communities. Their campaigns included financing music performances and neighborhood events. Company documents released through the 1990s lawsuits also show the companies saw menthols as good "starter" products as they appealed to teens. 12In the late 1990s, new restrictions banned cigarette ads from billboards, public transport and most tobacco-financed events. Companies moved much of their marketing to places like gas stations and small neighborhood markets. Research has shown both kinds of businesses are heavily present in Black neighborhoods. 13About one-third of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. are menthols so a ban would hurt tobacco industry profits. As smoking has decreased in America, tobacco companies have been pushing similar products, including electronic cigarettes. But those still make up a very small percentage of industry sales. 14Reynolds American makes the popular menthol cigarette Newport. In a statement, it said public science does not support treating menthol cigarettes differently from non-menthol. 15The Altria corporation owns several tobacco product companies. It sharply criticized the FDA proposal, which it described as "criminalizing menthol." 16Smoking causes cancer, strokes and heart attacks and is blamed for 480,000 deaths each year. About 14 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes, with rates around the same between white and Black populations. But Black smokers are less likely to effectively stop smoking, which the U.S. Surgeon General and others have linked to menthol cigarettes. 17Menthol is a chemical compound found naturally in mint plants. But it can be produced in a laboratory. Known for its cooling effect, the chemical is also used in some medicines. Cigarette makers began adding the chemical in the 1920s after realizing it reduced the burning feeling smokers can experience. 18Past government efforts against menthol have faced resistance from lawmakers in tobacco states like North Carolina. But some members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who received campaign donations from cigarette companies also opposed the ban. 19Some CBC members warned that banning menthol would create an illegal market for the products. And they said it might lead to increased law enforcement in Black communities. 20Yet calls for action have been growing. And last year the House of Representatives voted to ban the flavor with support from most Black members. The bill was ignored in the Republican-controlled Senate after President Trump made clear he opposed the measure. 21I'm Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Alice Bryant. 22The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 23_______________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25menthol - n. an oil made from mint that has a strong smell and is used in cigarettes, candy and medicines for sore throats 26cigarette - n. a small roll of paper that is filled with cut tobacco and smoked 27lawsuit - n. a case in court involving a claim or complaint by one party against another 28petition - n. a document that many people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something 29flavor - n. a substance or extract that provides a particular taste 30data - n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something 31billboard - n. a flat surface or board, usually outdoors, on which very large advertisements or notices are posted