The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee recently released a report that examined the impact of menthol cigarettes on public health. The report, which was mandated by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, did not find that menthol cigarettes pose a greater risk of smoking-related diseases than non-menthol cigarettes. However, the Committee found that the availability of menthol cigarettes increases smoking initiation among youth; may increase the likelihood and degree of addiction; and reduces cessation among African-Americans. Based on these findings, the Committee has recommended that removing menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the U.S.

The FDA will now review the Committee’s report and consider what actions, if any, to take. The FDA is not required to follow the Committee’s recommendation, but to take it into consideration when determining what future actions are necessary.

AHA, along with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, offered the groups’ strong support for the Committee’s recommendation and called upon the FDA to implement the recommendation in a way that maximizes the public health benefits.

For more information on the Committee’s report, please see www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts