Category Archives: tobacco companies

“Non-menthol” is a characterizing flavor, so illegal to sell in California

California law (SB793, upheld against an RJ Reynolds’ referendum) prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. In response, RJ Reynolds and ITG Brands introduced “non-menthol” cigarettes to try and evade the law. While most discussion has concentrated on the fact that these products are marketed just like menthol brands (which, by itself, is enough toContinue reading ““Non-menthol” is a characterizing flavor, so illegal to sell in California”

Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue “sweet with a vanilla undertone”

An online review of Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue (posted Feb 17, 2023) describes it as “sweet with a vanilla undertone” adds to the evidence that RJ Reynolds’ “non-menthol” cigarettes introduced in California violate the state’s ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. As discussed in detail before, here is what the California lawContinue reading “Camel Crush Non-menthol Oasis Blue “sweet with a vanilla undertone””

Three new papers detail FDA errors in authorizing Vuse Solo

Last week Tobacco Control published two peer reviewed scientific critiques of FDA’s authorization for RJ Reynolds to sell Vuse Solo e-cigarettes as well as a commentary on the two papers.  Both papers recommend FDA exercise its authority to withdraw authorization to sell Vuse Solo and the commentary because FDA did not demonstrate that marketing VuseContinue reading “Three new papers detail FDA errors in authorizing Vuse Solo”

FDA pushes back date for finishing PMTAs (again)

The convenience store trade publication CSP reported that the FDA has pushed the anticipated date for finishing making decisions on premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) — mostly e-cigarettes — again, this time to the end of 2023. According to CSP, The Food and Drug Administration is going to need until the end of 2023 toContinue reading “FDA pushes back date for finishing PMTAs (again)”

UCSF Tobacco Center Billion Lives Symposium available for online viewing

As in past years, the symposium is archived and available to watch for free here. This is the program: Keynote Panel: 20 Years of the Industry Documents: Past, Present and Future: Presentations by Faculty and Postdoctoral Scholars: Closing Remarks, Chris Shaffer, MS, UCSF Assistant Vice Chancellor and University Librarian The last several years’ symposia areContinue reading “UCSF Tobacco Center Billion Lives Symposium available for online viewing”

RJR non-menthol Newport cigs are “substantially equivalent” to RJR Newport menthol

There are three ways that a tobacco company can get authorization to sell a new tobacco product in the US.  The way that has attracted a lot of attention lately is through a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA); all the e-cigarettes have to go through this process.  There are also two easier processes: submit aContinue reading “RJR non-menthol Newport cigs are “substantially equivalent” to RJR Newport menthol”

Foundation for a Smokefree World looking for CEO … without mentioning that Philip Morris International created and remains the sole funder

A friend recently got this email: The Foundation for a Smokefree World was founded in September 2017. While it advertises itself as independent, it was created with sole funding from the tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI), which announced expected to continue to fund the Foundation at about $80 million a year for the nextContinue reading “Foundation for a Smokefree World looking for CEO … without mentioning that Philip Morris International created and remains the sole funder”

RJR non-menthol cigarettes have other flavors according to RJR

As documented in three earlier blog posts (1, 2, 3) and an article in the New York Times, RJ Reynolds has introduced several “non-menthol” brands of cigarettes in an effort to get around California’s law prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products. It is important to keep in mind that the law prohibits the saleContinue reading “RJR non-menthol cigarettes have other flavors according to RJR”

RJR tries to slither around CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products with Newport, too

RJ Reynolds, BAT’s US subsidiary, has released its third effort to keep selling flavored cigarettes with its new Newport cigarettes that offer “bold lasting flavor” now that it can’t sell menthol cigarettes. The problem with what Reynolds is doing is that the law prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products, not just menthol flavored tobaccoContinue reading “RJR tries to slither around CA ban on sale of flavored tobacco products with Newport, too”