Menthol: studying the studies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is calling for public comments on menthol in cigarettes to be submitted by Nov. 22.

Specifically, the FDA is requesting information to inform its thinking about potential regulatory options such as tobacco product standards and sale and distribution restrictions.

The FDA conducted what it refers to as a “preliminary independent scientific evaluation of existing data and research on menthol cigarettes,” which addresses the association between menthol cigarettes and various outcomes, including initiation, addiction and cessation.

And it has commissioned three further studies: one about genetic differences in taste perceptions in tobacco use; one about the exposure to smoke-related toxins and carcinogens created by menthol and non-menthol cigarettes, and one about the effects of compounds delivered by menthol and non-menthol cigarettes and their effect on addiction and toxicants.