RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tobacco industry use of flavourings to promote smokeless tobacco products
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP ii40
OP ii49
DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053212
VO 25
IS Suppl 2
A1 Ganna Kostygina
A1 Pamela M Ling
YR 2016
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/25/Suppl_2/ii40.abstract
AB Background While fruit, candy and alcohol characterising flavours are not allowed in cigarettes in the USA, other flavoured tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco (ST) continue to be sold. We investigated tobacco manufacturers' use of flavoured additives in ST products, the target audience(s) for flavoured products, and marketing strategies promoting products by emphasising their flavour.Methods Qualitative analysis of internal tobacco industry documents triangulated with data from national newspaper articles, trade press and internet.Results Internally, flavoured products have been consistently associated with young and inexperienced tobacco users. Internal studies confirmed that candy-like sweeter milder flavours (eg, mint, fruit) could increase appeal to starters by evoking a perception of mildness, blinding the strong tobacco taste and unpleasant mouth feel; or by modifying nicotine delivery by affecting product pH.Discussion Similar to cigarettes, flavoured ST is likely to encourage novices to start using tobacco, and regulations limiting or eliminating flavours in cigarettes should be extended to include flavoured ST products.