FDA panel advises removing menthol from cigarettes

A panel of the Food and Drug Administration has advised the FDA to remove menthol from cigarettes. The recommendation comes today following yesterday’s meeting of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

Most affected would be Lorillard, Inc., which makes the leading brand of Newport menthol cigarettes. WHYY’s Taunya English addressed this issue yesterday in her feature about menthol cigarettes.

“Today more than 80-percent of African-American adolescent smokers use the minty-flavored cigarettes, according to a draft post from the advisory panel,” Taunya wrote.

Of the experts Taunya talked to, opinions differed about whether a menthol ban would lead to better health among the African American population, or if a ban would simply drive an underground menthol market.

It’s not clear yet if the FDA will follow the recommendation.