ATS Presents Comments Before NASEM on Health Hazards of Premium Cigars
This week, ATS member and Vice Chair of the ATS Tobacco Action Committee Hasmeena Kathuria, MD, spoke before the National Academies of Science Engineer and Medicine regarding the health effects of “premium” cigars. The NASEM panel was convened to provide expert opinion questions about consumer use patterns and health effects of premium cigars posed by NIH and FDA.
In her comments before NASEM, Dr. Kathuria noted that the concept of premium cigars is a tobacco industry concept intended to shield certain tobacco products from FDA regulation. Further, she noted that all tobacco products, including large cigars, higher-priced or hand-rolled cigars, have serious adverse health effects.
