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Not for kids? Really? Excuse me while I go pull my hair out – I won’t have much left after reading about this new product developed and marketed by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. What is the product? Dissolvable, flavored tobacco. A smaller company, Star Scientific Inc., is also involved as they have been marketing a similar product for about nine years already.
Now, if you go to the Reynold’s website for the product, www.cameldissolvables.com, you will see that you can’t get in without a huge song-and-dance. You either have to have a special code from one of their products, or go through a lengthy inquisition to determine (and prove) that you are over 18 years old. But, seriously, do we really believe that dissolvable, flavored tobacco strips are for the over-18 year old market?
Star Scientific’s products are available in wintergreen, coffee and tobacco flavors, while Reynolds is is test-marketing dissolvable tablets, strips and a toothpick shape called Camel Orbs, Camel Strips and Camel Sticks in mint and other flavors.
Well, let’s say that FDA has its doubts too. In their letter to the company, they wrote:
Section 907(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) to study “the nature and impact of the use of dissolvable tobacco products on the public health, including such use among children” and provide us with a report and recommendations. CTP is concerned that children and adolescents may find dissolvable tobacco products particularly appealing, given the brightly colored packaging, candy-like appearance and easily concealable size of many of these products. We are also concerned about the extent to which the high nicotine content and rapid dissolution of dissolvable tobacco products may facilitate initiation of tobacco use, nicotine dependence and addiction in adolescents, and may serve as a mechanism for inadvertent toxicity in children. The report and recommendations developed by the TPSAC should help CTP better understand these issues.
What is particularly interesting is the “brightly colored packaging, candy-like appearance and easily concealable size of many of these products.” Who are they trying to kid (no pun intended? Is this product really geared towards baby boomers? People in their 40s? 30s? Hardly likely.
In this article, FDA: Dissolvable Tobacco Appeals To Kids, a representative from Star Scientific is quoted as saying that the goal of flavoring of the product is to make the products taste “less harsh.” It seems that if it tastes harsh and people don’t want to use it, that may be a good thing, no?
What do you think? Is there a place for this type of product?
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Image: PhotoXpress.com
Well thats appalling but I reckon the health authorities and regulatory bodies have wised up to the likes of the executives that operate companies that try to get there products to market masquerading as something for another age group ….Star Scientific and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company shame on you but you really dont worry because you are faceless corporations that are only interested in getting us to buy your product on a continous basis and need to produce a product thats highly addictive …Its so obvious that it borders on the ridiculous and I hope to see the demise of Cigarette manufactures in my life time …Outlaw the lot I say and will make life safer for all of us
There is absolutely no reason on earth for this product to exist. And it is insulting that the tobacco companies think the general public is so stupid that we’ll believe this is not aimed at children.