RESOLUTION

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

RESOLUTION URGING

THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO

BAN THE USE OF MENTHOL IN CIGARETTES

AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS

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WHEREAS, the Tobacco Industry has a well-documented history of developing and marketing mentholated brands of cigarettes and other tobacco products to racial and ethnic minorities, especially to youth, and whereby these products are shown to be “starter” products for beginner smokers; and

WHEREAS, statistics show that 44% of children ages 12 – 17 years who smoke, 51% of Asian Americans and Hispanics, and 79% of African Americans use menthol cigarettes; and

WHEREAS, the Tobacco Industry has targeted African Americans with mentholated products and, indeed, the smoking rate among African American San Mateo County residents is higher than any other group, nearly 30% higher than the countywide average; and

WHEREAS, the Tobacco Industry has been manipulating the dose of menthol in cigarettes to ensure the uptake and continued use, especially by youth and other vulnerable populations for many years; and

WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits cigarettes from having candy, fruit and spice as their characterizing flavors because these flavors make tobacco products especially appealing to youth, and can lead to a lifetime of tobacco addiction; yet, in cigarettes, menthol is the only cigarette additive that is actively marketed to consumers and virtually all cigarettes contain menthol to make cigarettes more palatable; and

WHEREAS, the FDA has the authority to issue product standards to promote public health, which can include eliminating or reducing certain ingredients such as menthol in cigarettes and other tobacco products,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California is committed to the health and wellbeing of its residents and is particularly concerned about preventing tobacco use among youth and hereby urges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of menthol in cigarettes and other tobacco products in the United States.

Dated: June28, 2011

SUPERVISORS:

________________________________
CAROLE GROOM, President

______________________________

DAVE PINE

______________________________
DON HORSLEY

________________________________
ROSE JACOBS GIBSON

________________________________
ADRIENNE J. TISSIER

Attest:

_________________________________

Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors