R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Under Fire For Flavored Cigarettes Ads

  • May 23, 2007
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is under fire from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids for its marketing of Camel Signature Blends that come in Robust, Mellow, Frost and Infused flavors.

Matthew Myers, president of the campaign, issued a press release yesterday saying that the company is trying to circumvent a settlement it made with state attorneys general last October to stop marketing candy, fruit and alcohol-flavored cigarettes. The states had asserted that RJR's marketing of flavored cigarettes violated the 1998 state tobacco settlement's prohibition on targeting youth.

RJR is advertising in Cosmopolitan magazine and in store ads, the campaign says, touting its cigarettes' flavors as being "similar to notes found on cocoa and espresso"; "accented with toasted honey"; "Fine Asian Mint ... while the creamy finish delivers a smooth, buttery aftertaste"; and "notes of Citrus" and "a sweet apple-like flavor."

RJR did not return calls for comment yesterday.

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