Flavor chemicals: Culprit behind PH ‘tobacco epidemic’
MANILA, Philippines—In a “first of its kind” study, scientists linked flavor chemicals found in cigarettes sold in the Philippines to the products’ appeal among many adult and young Filipino consumers. In a recent study, researchers at the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Portland State University analyzed the chemical composition of cigarette brands available in the Philippine market. “Tobacco product flavors can increase product appeal, adolescent initiation and experimentation, and difficulty quitting,” the researchers said. “There are no published reports to our knowledge on the levels of flavor chemicals in the cigarettes sold in [the Philippines],” they added. The Philippines is a signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), whose guidelines for implementation state: “From the perspective of public health, there is no justification for permitting the use of ingredients, such as flavoring agents, which help make tobacco products attractive.” Still, researchers noted that flavored tobacco products remain unrestricted in the country despite the high smoking prevalence among Filipinos aged 15 and older. Results of the analysis likewise revealed that tobacco companies in the country continue to offer cigarette products with a range of flavors. ‘Appeal-enhancing flavor chemicals’ The study determined and compared the presence and levels of 180 flavor chemicals found in cigarettes sold in the Philippines. Detailed analysis revealed that three flavor groupings were found among 19 brands purchased in the country in 2020: Researchers noted that menthol existed in 74 percent—or 14 out of 19—sample packs. Menthol was also the highest level of flavor chemical detected among all brands — up to 18.4 milligrams per stick. “The market share of menthol cigarettes sold in the Philippines is among the largest in the world, with the 2015 Philippines Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) reporting that over half (52%) of people who smoke manufactured cigarettes last purchased menthol cigarettes,” the IGTC said in a statement. “Menthol can make cigarettes more palatable, and other studies have shown that flavors in general (and menthol specifically) can contribute to a lower likelihood of quitting,” it added. The analysis also found that cigarettes in the 12 packs in the sample, around 63 percent, had flavor “technologies” such as flavor capsules or flavor threads, which — as explained by the researchers — allow consumers to control the release of flavor chemicals. “[A] marketing differentiator that can further contribute to appeal
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