WASHINGTON, DC -- July 23, 2013 -- "The Food and Drug Administration report issued today affirms previous scientific evidence that menthol flavoring in cigarettes makes it harder to quit and encourages kids to take up the habit -- findings that necessitate a ban on menthol cigarettes.
"The report confirms the results of an exhaustive review of scientific evidence conducted two years ago by the FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, which concluded that the removal of menthol as a distinguishing flavor from cigarettes would benefit public health.
"The science is clear that menthol cigarettes pose a threat to public health, and we urge the FDA to take swift action to ban them.
"We hope the effort to invite public comment on regulation of menthol cigarettes will only serve to strengthen the already compelling need to remove these products from the market, and to compel the FDA's quick action."
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.