Tag: United States

  • Healthy options

    Healthy options

    Tobacco and nicotine appear at number seven on the 10 Health Recommendations for Successful New Year’s Resolutions put out yesterday by the American Medical Association (AMA).
    In a press note, the AMA said that, with the new year quickly approaching, it was offering 10 recommendations to help Americans make the most impactful, long-lasting improvements to their health in 2019.
    “This is the perfect time of year for each of us to consider our personal goals, and how we can make positive health choices in the coming year,” said AMA president Barbara L. McAneny, M.D.
    “We encourage everyone to prioritize their long-term health by making small lifestyle changes now that can have a lasting effect in improving their health.”
    Although the recommendations are aimed at ‘Americans’, most of us could all do with making some changes to our lives; so here are the 10 recommendations listed in the press note, edited slightly.

    1. Learn your risk for type 2 diabetes and the steps you can take to help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
    2. Be more physically active. Adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity.
    3. Know your blood pressure numbers and take the necessary steps to get your high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, under control. Doing so will reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
    4. Reduce your intake of processed foods, especially those with added sodium and sugar. Also reduce your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and drink more water instead.
    5. If a health care professional determines that you need antibiotics, take them exactly as prescribed. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem and antibiotics will not make you feel better if you have a virus, such as a cold or flu.
    6. If consuming alcohol, do so in moderation and only if you are an adult of legal drinking age.
    7. Talk with your doctor about tobacco and nicotine use and quit. Declare your home and car smoke-free to eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke.
    8. Pain medication is personal. If you are taking prescription opioids, follow your doctor’s instructions, store them safely to prevent diversion or misuse, and properly dispose of any leftover medication.
    9. Make sure your family is up-to-date on their vaccines.
    10. Manage stress. A good diet and daily exercise are key ingredients to maintaining and improving your mental health, but don’t hesitate to ask for help from a friend or mental health professional when you need it.
  • Drug meeting rescheduled

    Drug meeting rescheduled

    A public hearing on potential drug therapies to help addicted young people quit electronic cigarettes has been rescheduled, according to the US Food and Drug Administration, which issued a note through its Center for Tobacco Products.
    The FDA said it had posted a notice in the Federal Register rescheduling the public hearing to January 18, at the FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland.
    ‘Individuals interested in presenting at the hearing must register by January 8, 2019,’ the note said.
    ‘Those interested in attending the hearing in person or watching the free, live webcast must register by January 15, 2019.
    ‘Anyone who previously signed up to present at or attend the canceled December 5 hearing will have to register again.’
    The FDA said the deadline to submit a public comment to docket FDA-2018-N-3952 had been extended through February 1, regardless of attendance at the public hearing.
    Further information, including instructions for presenters, is included in the Federal Register notice.

  • Hypocrisy unmasked

    Hypocrisy unmasked

    Despite receiving more than $27 billion in the current budget year from the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, the US states continue to severely underfund tobacco prevention and cessation programs proven to save lives and money, according to a statement issued by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on Friday.
    ‘Since the states settled their lawsuits against the major tobacco companies in 1998, our annual reports have assessed whether the states are keeping their promise to use a significant portion of their settlement funds – estimated at $246 billion over the first 25 years – to attack the enormous public health problems caused by tobacco use in the United States,’ the statement said.
    ‘Despite receiving huge sums from the settlement and collecting billions more in tobacco taxes, the states continue to short-change tobacco prevention and cessation programs that are proven to save lives and reduce health care costs.
    ‘In the current budget year, Fiscal Year 2019, the states will collect $27.3 billion from the settlement and taxes. But they will spend just 2.4 percent of it – $655 million – on programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.
    ‘Meanwhile, tobacco companies spend $9.5 billion a year – $1 million every hour – to market their deadly and addictive products. This means tobacco companies spend $14 to market their products for every $1 the states spend to reduce tobacco use.
    ‘Our report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use – still the nation’s No. 1 cause of preventable death and disease – to accelerate progress, address large disparities in who still smokes, and confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America.
    ‘This report is issued by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Americans for Non-smokers’ Rights and Truth Initiative.’

  • E-liquid rules 'defy logic'

    E-liquid rules 'defy logic'

    The owner of two vaping stores in Portland, Oregon, US, is asking a judge to throw out a state list of banned words and pictures on vaping liquid packages, according to a story by Aimee Green at oregonlive.com.
    Paul Bates says the state’s “ridiculous” rules defy logic. For instance, he says in his lawsuit that the packages can’t use the words ‘apple or ‘strawberry’ even to describe the apple- or strawberry-infused liquids he sells for use with electronic cigarettes.
    The same goes for pictures of apples or strawberries.
    Employees at his Division Vapor stores in Southeast and Northeast Portland use white stickers to cover images on the labels that don’t comply with state rules, and that amounts to censorship and a violation of free speech, the suit contends.
    “The new rules are just mind-boggling,” Bates reportedly told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Wednesday.
    His suit lists the Oregon Health Authority, which is responsible for creating the banned list, as a defendant. Delia Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the agency, declined comment because of the pending litigation.
    Hernandez, however, said the recent packaging rules were sparked by concern from the state lawmakers, who passed a law in 2015 requiring that packaging not be attractive to children.
    In response, the Oregon Health Authority adopted a rule that said vaping liquid labels can’t depict images that might be appealing to minors – including those of “celebrities, athletes, mascots, fictitious characters” or “food or beverages likely to appeal to minors such as candy, desserts, soda, food or beverages with sweet flavors including fruit or alcohol”. This year, health officials added words, such as “tart, tangy, sweet, cool, fire, ice” and the names of fruits.
    Bates, who buys his entire inventory from other companies that mostly don’t comply with Oregon regulations, said the health authority hadn’t forced him to follow the latest rules – yet.
    The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Beaverton attorney Herbert Grey is representing Bates

  • Dysfunctional ingredients

    Dysfunctional ingredients

    Consumers should not use two electronic-cigarette liquids that contain erectile dysfunction drugs because they may pose health risks, according to a story at WebMD quoting CNN and citing the US Food and Drug Administration.
    The two HelloCig e-liquids were said to contain tadalafil and sildenafil, the main ingredients in two of the most popular male enhancement drugs (Cialis and Viagra).
    Laboratory tests had found both sildenafil and tadalafil in E-Cialis HelloCig E-Liquid and sildenafil in E-Rimonabant HelloCig E-Liquid. The e-liquids are made by HelloCig Electronic Technology of Shanghai, China.
    ‘These FDA-approved prescription drugs are not approved for inclusion in e-liquid products sold over the counter and are therefore being sold illegally, the FDA said.
    It was said that because the products were not properly labeled, they could pose a risk to people who took nitrates for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease.
    No adverse events related to the two e-liquids had been reported to the FDA.

  • Advertising graphic warnings

    Advertising graphic warnings

    New research from Cornell University suggests graphic warning labels on cigarette advertisements have the same anti-smoking effect as similar warning labels on cigarette packs, according to a University story at news-medical.net.
    The labels, which contain images such as bleeding, cancerous gums and lips, are said also to cancel out the effect of advertisements that prompt young people to think of smoking as cool, rebellious and fun.
    “This study suggests the value of graphic warning labels extends beyond just getting people to have more negative feeling about smoking,” said lead author Jeff Niederdeppe, associate professor of communication, who wrote the paper with a team of Cornell-affiliated researchers. “It also seems to have the added benefit of reducing the influence of ‘social cue’ ads that entice young people to want to smoke in the first place.”
    The paper, Using Graphic Warning Labels to Counter Effects of Social Cues and Brand Imagery in Cigarette Advertising, was published in Health Education Research.
    Researchers studied the graphic warning labels’ effect on 451 adult smokers and 474 middle schoolers in rural and urban low-income communities in the Northeast.

  • FDA committee meeting set

    FDA committee meeting set

    A committee that advises the US Food and Drug Administration is to meet to discuss an amendment to Swedish Match North America’s (SMNA) modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) applications for eight General Snus products, and an MRTP application submitted by US Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) for its Copenhagen Snuff Fine Cut tobacco product.
    In a note issued through its Center for Tobacco Products, the FDA said it had issued a Federal Register notice announcing a meeting of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) scheduled for February 6-7 at the FDA White Oak campus.
    The committee is due to discuss scientific issues related to SMNA’s amendment – made public in October – to its MRTP applications for eight General Snus products. It is due to discuss also the MRTP application submitted by USSTC for its Copenhagen Snuff Fine Cut tobacco product, which is currently under scientific review by FDA.
    ‘The Tobacco Control Act defines an MRTP as any tobacco product sold or distributed for use to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease associated with commercially marketed tobacco products,’ the FDA said in its note. ‘MRTP information may communicate to consumers that the product is less harmful or presents a lower risk of tobacco-related disease than other commercially marketed tobacco products, reduces exposure to a substance, or does not contain or is free of a substance.
    ‘During this upcoming meeting, representatives from Altria (parent company to USSTC) and FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products’ Office of Science will present information about the company’s MRTP application currently under FDA scientific review.
    ‘In addition, TPSAC members will hear presentations from SMNA and FDA about that company’s recent amendment to their MRTP applications for eight General Snus smokeless tobacco products, which FDA previously acted on in December 2016.
    ‘TPSAC members may then discuss available scientific evidence related to issues and questions posed by FDA about the USSTC application and SMNA amendment. During this discussion, TPSAC voting members may vote on specific issues and questions or other topics arising during the committee’s discussion.’

  • FDA issues warnings

    FDA issues warnings

    The US Food and Drug Administration said yesterday it had issued a warning letter to Electric Lotus for selling nicotine-containing e-liquids with labeling and/or advertising that cause the liquids to resemble kid-friendly food products, such as cereal, candy, and peanut butter and jelly.
    The FDA, in a note issued through its Center for Tobacco Products, said its action was part of the agency’s ongoing effort to protect kids from tobacco products.
    Electric Lotus ‒ a manufacturer, distributor and retailer, based in Redlands, California ‒ was also cited for illegally selling products to a minor, for failing to list its products with FDA and for selling e-liquids without the required FDA premarket authorization.
    “We’re seeing too many cases where companies are designing e-liquid products in packages that resemble children’s food items and this sort of egregious marketing can lead to accidental ingestion of potentially lethal doses of nicotine by young kids,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD.
    “There’s no excuse for this sort of packaging and we’ll continue to target these products and the companies that market them.
    “FDA will also continue to implement new steps to make sure children aren’t started down a path to nicotine addiction and tobacco use. Those include actions to target those who design products in ways that are clearly marketed to appeal to children. No child should be using any tobacco product. We’ll continue to hold industry accountable to ensure these products aren’t being marketed to, sold to or used by kids.”
    The products outlined in the new warning letter were said to include, for example: ‘“Cereal Treats Crunch,” which resembles Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal products; “Cereal Treats Loopz,” which looks like Froot Loops cereal; “Cereal Treats Charms,” which resembles Lucky Charms cereal products; and “Cereal Treats Krispies,” which looks like Rice Krispies Treats cereal’. Many of these products were said to have cartoon characters on their labeling and/or advertising.
    The FDA has requested that the company responds within 15 working days to describe how it intends to address the agency’s concerns.
    ‘Failure to correct violations may result in further action such as seizure or injunction,’ the FDA note said. ‘In addition, misbranded or adulterated products imported into the United States are subject to detention and refusal of admission.’

  • Altria and JUUL in talks

    Altria and JUUL in talks

    The Altria Group is in talks to take a minority stake of 20-40 percent in the electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs, according to a Reuters story by Harry Brumpton and Chris Kirkham, quoting ‘people familiar with the matter’.
    The companies were said to have declined to comment.
    Big tobacco companies, including Altria, have been investing in e-cigarettes as US smoking rates have declined, but their products have lost significant market share during the past year as Juul’s popularity has surged.
    The sources said the talks had been ongoing during the past few months, and that the size of the stake could change.
    Additionally, one source said the talks could still fall apart because of the many shareholders and regulators involved.
    But such a deal was said to provide the opportunity for Juul to continue to grow with reduced risk, and without losing control of the company.
    Meanwhile, Bonnie Herzog, MD Equity Research at Wells Fargo Securities said she viewed the rumors that Altria was looking to take a significant minority stake in JUUL very positively.
    But Matthew L. Myers, president, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement that the possible Juul-Atria partnership underscored the need for effective Food and Drug Administration regulation of e-cigarettes and all tobacco products to stop tobacco companies from reversing decades of progress and addicting another generation of kids.

  • Santa Fe supports growers

    Santa Fe supports growers

    Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company (SFNTC) has donated $100,000 to the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) for the creation of the Hurricane Relief Partnership for Carolina Sustainable Farms.
    SFNTC is a subsidiary of Reynolds American, which is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of British American Tobacco.
    SFNTC, a member of the non-profit CFSA, said that the new hurricane relief partnership had two key purposes:

    • To provide access to low-cost capital and financial planning to between 30 and 50 small sustainable farms in North and South Carolina that suffered damage due to the impact of Hurricanes Florence and Michael; and
    • To create an endowment fund to guarantee availability of low-cost financing for small sustainable Carolina farms in the event of future catastrophic weather events.

    “The Hurricane Relief Partnership for Carolina Sustainable Farms marks the beginning of a new strategy in building the financial resilience of our region’s sustainable agriculture community,” said Roland McReynolds, CFSA’s executive director.
    “The probability of disasters in future years presents a long-term threat to the survival of sustainable family farms serving the markets for local and organic agricultural products in this region.
    “These farms, some of which are SFNTC’s grower partners, are not reliably served by the safety net that exists for large-scale conventional commodity production. Yet the contributions they make to their communities — enhanced soil and water quality, biodiversity, healthy food, economic growth — are vital, and when one of these farms is lost, it has long-lasting negative effects.”
    According to a press note on the Reynolds American website, CFSA will work with the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) to leverage SFNTC’s donation to create up to $250,000 in low-cost microloans for small, sustainable farms in North and South Carolina affected by the hurricanes.
    ‘CFSA will also partner with the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA to support its work to assist farmers in accessing state and federal disaster relief programs, and to provide financial counselling to farmers receiving NCIFund loans under the Hurricane Relief Partnership program,’ the note said.
    McReynolds added that CFSA would use funds that were not expended as part of the 2018-19 NCIFund loan guarantee agreement as a guarantee pool for weather-related farm losses beyond 2019.
    The association would solicit also other contributions to this endowment, with a goal of building a larger guarantee fund to support greater availability of low-cost, low-underwriting microloans for this population of small, sustainable farms in future years.