Doctors’ Group Urges FDA to Ban Flavorings and Television Ads for E-Cigarettes

The American College of Physicians (ACP) this week urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban flavorings and television ads for e-cigarettes. The group joins many other medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association, in calling on the FDA to regulate e-cigarettes, according to HealthDay.

The ACP recommendation is published in this week’s Annals of Internal Medicine.

The group says that despite the popularity of e-cigarettes, “the evidence regarding their safety and efficacy as a smoking cessation tool is limited.” The group is concerned that the chemicals used in the devices can be harmful to smokers and bystanders.

ACP spokesman Ryan Crowley told HealthDay, “There are over 7,000 different flavorings in e-cigarettes, and the evidence shows that young people are attracted to these products because of the flavors. There are also concerns that there are harmful chemicals in the flavorings themselves.”

He noted that the group’s call for a ban on television ads for e-cigarettes follows its policy supporting bans on all tobacco ads. The ACP supports taxing e-cigarettes and banning their use in indoor and outdoor public areas. The group also called for more research on e-cigarettes.