Content about Smoking

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — Arco Health, Inc., makers of Diet-Burst gum, announced last week new packaging designs for its dietary supplement gum, as well as new nicotine replacement products available in July.

The NicoBurst line of products are designed to help smokers end their dependency on smoking traditional cigarettes. The NicoBurst disposable e-cigarette has a traditional tobacoo flavor and provides the same nicotine experience to satisfy a smoker's cravings. The cigarette replacement product comes after two years of research and development. 

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes has announced the addition of two new menthol flavors to their roster: iced berry and zero K.

Menthol triggers cold-sensitive nerves in the skin without providing a drop in temperature and the new flavors were designed to refresh the user. Iced berry is a cool hint of mint that is surrounded by wild berries. Zero K is a cold blast of peppermint.

Exclusively made in the USA, both iced berry and zero K are offered in light, full and Xtra nicotine strengths. Zero K will be offered in XXtra as well.

MADISON, Wis. — Oscar Mayer announced this week the addition of five new hot dog innovations featuring bacon, sausage, chicken breast, lean and extra lean varieties available this summer.

Beginning in June, consumers nationwide will be able to purchase two Oscar Mayer hot dogs perfect for the summer grill, including the Bacon Dog and Smokies Smoked Sausages.

PHILADELPHIA — Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania last week reported that an area of the brain that initiates behavioral changes had greater activation in smokers who watched anti-smoking ads with strong arguments versus those with weaker ones, and irrespective of such flashy elements as bright and rapidly changing scenes, loud sounds and unexpected scenario twists. 

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has proposed increasing federal taxes on cigarettes, drawing criticism from tobacco companies and praise from anti-smoking groups.

As part of his proposed budget, Obama proposed raising the tax on cigarettes by 94 cents per pack, with similar increases on other tobacco products. The current tax is $1.01 per pack.

ATLANTA — Continuing with the success of last year’s national education ad campaign, "Tips from Former Smokers," a second series of ads was launched Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

WASHINGTON — The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is organizing more than 1,200 events across the country to promote smoking abstinence and cessation.

The group announced Friday the 18th annual Kick Butts Day, on March 20, in which young people will encourage peers to stay tobacco-free and educate their communities about the health effects of smoking. While youth smoking rates have gone down, 18.1% of high school students still smoke, the group said.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Smokeless tobacco users who said they didn’t want to quit changed their minds or significantly cut back when given nicotine lozenges or tobacco-free snuff in a Mayo Clinic study.

The findings are published in the February issue of Addictive Behaviors.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts has recommended approval for an experimental drug made by Boehringer Ingelheim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the drug maker said.

SCHLIEREN, Switzerland — Cytos Biotechnology will regain rights to an experimental vaccine against nicotine addiction that it had licensed to Novartis, Cytos said Wednesday.

The company said that Novartis would discontinue the project, known as NIC002. Cytos granted Novartis a license for NIC002 in 2007, but phase-2 trial results in October 2009 indicated that the vaccine spurred the development of nicotine-specific antibodies in patients, but did not increase smoking cessation.

CHICAGO — Sales of smoking cessation aids are projected to reach $1 billion in 2012 with continued growth driving sales as high as $1.2 billion by 2017, market research firm Mintel reported Thursday. 

 NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft will introduce more than 40 new products in 2013, the company stated. This is the first comprehensive new products launch since Kraft became an independent public company in October. In keeping with the company's initiative to offer consumers good, better and best choices, Kraft is using its iconic brands and successful new platforms to deliver innovation across multiple categories. While some new products are hitting store shelves now, others debut in early 2013.