“Menthol cigarettes present an even more serious public health risk than other cigarettes”: this is what the Food and Drug Administration (the American Federation of Drugs and Food) has just said after conducting an investigation among smokers.
The FDA has thus noticed that this little mint taste similar to that of a candy gives the feeling to young smokers that menthol cigarettes are less aggressive than others. “They start earlier and quickly smoke a lot because this menthol taste is particularly attractive.”
The FDA report also shows that the addiction to these cigarettes is even stronger than the classic tobacco addiction, and that smokers have a harder time quitting when they consume menthol cigarettes.
10 years ago, a first study conducted on the initiative of the American Cancer Institute had already incriminated menthol cigarettes. At the time, experts had already denounced these cigarettes presented as “refreshing” and “cool” and “which attract young people”.
However, this “kiss cool effect” is not without danger: menthol not only stimulates the receptors in the mouth but also the lungs and makes you want to inhale the smoke more deeply than with a normal cigarette, which allows the components smoke (including carcinogenic components) from further entering the bronchi.
The FDA has therefore just opened a public consultation with the American population on a possible ban on menthol cigarettes.
