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The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a new publication on Friday, urging governments to swiftly prohibit all flavorings in tobacco and nicotine products.
According to the statement released on Friday, these products encompass cigarettes, pouches, hookahs, and e-cigarettes, aimed at safeguarding young people from addiction and illness.
The organization pointed out that flavors such as menthol, bubble gum, and cotton candy disguise the harshness of tobacco and nicotine products, transforming harmful items into appealing options for youth.
The statement emphasized that flavors not only complicate the quitting process but are also associated with severe lung diseases.
It added that cigarettes, which continue to claim the lives of nearly half their users, can be flavored or have flavors incorporated.
WHO's director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, remarked that flavors contribute to a new surge in addiction and should be eliminated. “They undermine decades of progress in tobacco control.
“Without significant action, the global tobacco crisis currently responsible for about eight million deaths annually will persist, fueled by addiction masked with attractive flavors,” stated Ghebreyesus.
He noted that the publication of flavor-related accessories in tobacco products enhances their allure and reveals how these flavors and accessories, like capsule filters and click-on drops, are marketed to evade regulations and entice new users.
He mentioned that over 50 countries have already banned flavored tobacco; more than 40 have prohibited e-cigarette sales; five specifically banned disposable versions and seven banned e-cigarette flavors; however, flavor accessories largely remain unregulated.
The WHO highlighted that countries including Belgium, Denmark, and Lithuania are taking action and encouraged others to follow suit. “Flavors are a primary reason young individuals experiment with tobacco and nicotine products. “Combined with eye-catching packaging and marketing driven by social media, they have heightened the allure of nicotine pouches, heated tobacco, and disposable vapes, which aggressively seek out young users,” he said.
WHO’s director of health promotion, Rüdiger Krech, remarked that they are witnessing an entire generation becoming addicted to nicotine through gummy bear-flavored pouches and vibrant vapes.
“This is not innovation; it is manipulation. We must put an end to it,” Krech stated.
He reiterated that tobacco products, including heated tobacco items, expose users to cancer-causing substances and should face strict regulations.
He noted that the 2025 World No Tobacco Day campaign celebrates the efforts of governments, youth activists, and civil society leaders who oppose industry interference.
“Your efforts are reshaping policy and saving lives,” Krech affirmed. With around eight million deaths linked to tobacco each year, he stressed that the time for action is urgent.
“Flavors and the industries that utilize them have no place in a healthy future,” he asserted. World No Tobacco Day is celebrated every May 31, with the 2025 theme being ‘Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products’.
