KOOL THING

[defrog]

ITEM: Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have published a study showing that tobacco companies manipulate the amount of menthol in cigarettes to make those first few puffs more palatable to young smokers.

According to the study, in 1987 R.J. Reynolds identified low menthol varieties as a new strategy to recruit new, young smokers.

"First-time smoker reaction is generally negative," it said in a company document. "Initial negatives can be alleviated with a low level of menthol."

The tobacco industry’s response:

"It would appear this report is simply an effort to push support for federal regulation of the tobacco industry, not a scientific review of the menthol category," said David Howard, a spokesman for R.J. Reynolds.

And no one knows proper science like RJ Reynolds. Just ask Nick Naylor.

Minty fresh,

This is dF