What do menthols do

The resulting report concluded that allowing menthol in cigarettes harmed public health and should be removed from the marketplace. To date, FDA has not formally proposed to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes. So, while the number of people smoking continues to decrease, the presence of menthol on the market continues to be an issue. The American Lung Association has long supported the removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace.

In April , we submitted a formal petition to the FDA, requesting the prohibition of menthol as a characterizing flavor of cigarettes. We continue to speak out and advocate for the removal of menthol cigarettes from the market. Learn more about our efforts and what you can do to help eliminate menthol from the marketplace. National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Kreslake, Jennifer M. Supplement 2 December Menthol was first added to cigarettes in the s.

In the past, the tobacco industry marketed menthol cigarettes as being healthier and safer. Advertisements emphasized their cool and refreshing taste. The ads often showed nature, coldness, springtime, water, and other refreshing qualities. Many people chose menthol cigarettes because they believed they were safer than non-menthol cigarettes. They are not. Toggle navigation. Menthol Marketing Menthol was first added to cigarettes in the s.

Quit Notes. Menthol flavoring contributes to addiction in youth smokers. There are no health benefits associated with smoking menthol cigarettes, compared with smoking non-menthol cigarettes. Adult menthol smokers report taking less time to have their first cigarette after waking than non-menthol smokers. Time to first cigarette is an important measure of nicotine addiction.

Scientific evidence indicates that adult menthol smokers are less likely than non-menthol smokers to successfully quit smoking despite increased quit intentions and quit attempts. Studies show significantly reduced rates of quitting among African-American and Hispanic menthol smokers compared with non-menthol smokers. Marketing in the U. Menthol makes up a large portion — 35 percent in — of the cigarette market in the U. The tobacco industry has a well-documented history of developing and marketing mentholated brands to racial and ethnic minorities and youth.

Evidence from tobacco industry documents also shows that tobacco companies specifically targeted African-Americans with menthol cigarette advertising. A review found that menthol marketing is higher in publications and venues that appeal to African-American audiences.

Numerous studies show targeted marketing of menthol cigarettes at the point of sale in African- American communities throughout the U. Policy in the U. The law specifically prohibits the use of characterizing flavorings in cigarettes, except for menthol.

Reynolds Tobacco Company challenged the integrity of the TPSAC in a lawsuit against the FDA, alleging that several experts the agency appointed to the committee were conflicted and therefore must be removed. In July , the FDA published its own report that also concluded that the removal of menthol cigarettes from the market would improve public health.

At the same time, the FDA requested public comment seeking additional information to help the agency make informed decisions about menthol in cigarettes. Five years later, in March , the FDA again requested public comment on the role that menthol in tobacco products plays in attracting youth, in the likelihood of quitting smoking and in the use of other tobacco products, including cigars and e-cigarettes.

Tobacco Industry Opposition At the local, state and national levels, the tobacco industry has worked hard to undermine government efforts to restrict the availability of menthol tobacco products. San Francisco, California, prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol.

Berkeley, California, prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, within feet of schools. Chicago, Illinois, prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, within feet of any city high school. Duluth and Falcon Heights, Minnesota, Los Gatos, Oakland and Palo Alto, California, prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, except in adult-only tobacco stores.

Minneapolis and St. Menthol comes from the mint plant so the flavoring is similar although the sensation may differ. According the the Monitoring the Future data, mint is the most popular vape flavor among kids. For more information and ways you can put an end to menthol in your community, visit.

What is Menthol Tobacco? July 2, Share social-mail Facebook Icon social-twitter. But Big Tobacco lobbied to keep menthol on the market — a huge loophole costing lives.