RICHMOND — Menthol cigarettes are no riskier than regular cigarettes and should not be regulated differently, the tobacco industry argues in a report to the Food and Drug Administration.
The agency is considering banning the minty cigarette flavoring. Many health experts say consumers think menthol offers health benefits, and that menthol cigarettes are disproportionately marketed to African-Americans.
The industry’s draft report acknowledges “all cigarettes are hazardous to health’’ and says there is no scientific basis to regulate menthols differently. The report concludes that menthol cigarettes don’t make it easier for people to start smoking or raise their risk of disease.
