Lorillard Defends Menthol Cigarettes

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 12/07/2009

Lorillard said yesterday that the weight of scientific evidence did not support the conclusion that menthol cigarettes conferred a greater health risk than did non-menthol products. The company was responding to the report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health about the use of menthol cigarettes, which was released yesterday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "While we have not had the opportunity to review this report in depth, the most comprehensive government sponsored studies show that populations who use menthol have lower smoking rates across all age groups," the company said in a statement. "Importantly, this report appears to ignore the chief finding of the survey - that menthol use among underage smokers has leveled off in the last year. According to current data, adult smoking rates continue to decline, while youth rates are at historic lows and have been in decline for more than a decade." "The current weight of scientific evidence does not support the conclusion that menthol cigarettes confer a greater health risk than non-menthol." Lorillard said it looked forward to co-operating with the FDA as it made "an objective science-based assessment in its review of menthol". Lorillard's flagship brand, Newport, is a menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand. Newport is the top selling menthol and second largest selling cigarette in the US. Enditem