"A Historic Step That Saves Lives": FDA to Ban Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars

By Erika Edwards - NBC News

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday that it will begin the process of banning menthol tobacco cigarettes, as well as flavored cigars, a decision that is expected to improve the health of groups of people most likely to smoke these menthol products, including children and blacks.

"With these actions, the FDA will help significantly reduce youth initiation, increase the chances of quitting smoking, and address the health disparities experienced by communities of color, low-income populations, and LGBTQ + individuals who are much more likely to use these tobacco products, "Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

However, the regulatory agency did not list menthol flavored e-cigarettes.

Still, public health experts applauded the move.

"The FDA has taken a historic step that saves lives," Richard Besser, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wrote in a statement. "Banning menthol cigarettes will surely save lives, eliminate great suffering and reduce health care costs," he added.