Tobacco and sugar

Flavorings, especially sweeteners, have been used in US tobacco products for decades, to mask the true taste of the tobacco. The FDA has recently banned some flavourings - specifically those designed to tempt young people to start smoking.

Oregon's Junior Senator, Jeff Merkley, highlighted another tobacco industry trick. In addition to the candy-flavored tobacco, he recently exposed the problem of candy with tobacco in it. Tins of candy, with each one containing a small amount of dissolvable tobacco, have been recently test marketed in several U.S. cities, including Portland.

Merkley, working with Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio won unanimous Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approval of an amendment directing the FDA to refer the matter to the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

Their amendment calls for the FDA to investigate“The issue of the nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health, including such use among children.” Their amendment was attached to the bill granting the FDA authority to regulate tobacco products.

They followed up with a June 26 letter to FDA Commissioner Hamburg in which they explained:

“Dissolvable tobacco products such as Camel Orbs … come in mint and caramel flavors and look like the candies that come out of a PEZ-type dispenser. … Rather than the traditional smokeless tin that leaves a noticeable ‘ring’ in one’s back pocket, these products look like cell phones in a student’s pocket.

“We believe these products are being used as a gateway to addict children to nicotine and graduate them to cigarettes and other tobacco products. In addition, dissolvable tobacco products are being used to discourage current smokers, both youth and adult, from quitting. These types of products allow children to continue their addiction to nicotine when they are in smoke-free places such as classrooms.”

Thank you Senator Merkley...