Lisa Lacasse: We are deeply disappointed that the White House is delaying to end the sale of menthol cigarettes

Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“We are deeply disappointed that the White House announced it is indefinitely delaying finalization of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, without mention of eliminating all flavours in cigars, despite an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating menthol flavouring is a serious public health risk.

The longer the delay, the more people get lured into a lifetime of tobacco addiction. The administration should refrain from giving deference and more time to conversations with an industry and groups carrying the message of an industry who benefits from addicting new customers.

It should rely on irrefutable evidence that prohibiting flavors is critical to reducing health disparities and ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.

‘The White House fell for industry rhetoric and, as a result, public health will suffer,” said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, the chief executive of the American Cancer Society.'”

Link to the NYT article.

Source: Lisa Lacasse/LinkedIn