Menthol Characterizing Flavors in Cigarettes on Sale in England After a Characterizing Flavor Ban: Findings From Sensory and Chemical Assessments.

Introduction: In May 2020, the United Kingdom banned menthol as a characteristic flavor in cigarettes. This study aimed to test cigarettes on sale in England in 2021-2022 for menthol and other characterizing flavors, through sensory and chemical testing.

Aims and methods: Assessments were conducted for 20 cigarette brands (16 tests and four reference products). An untrained consumer panel of 50 people who smoked daily were each randomized to smell one of the two blocks of 10 unburnt cigarettes in duplicate (50 assessments per product). Using the Check-All-That-Apply method, participants assessed the presence of 22 odor attributes, including menthol/mint. For each test and reference cigarette, proportions of assessments that identified menthol/mint, "fruity," "confectionary" and "non-tobacco" odors were identified and compared accounting for the within-participant duplicate testing. For each cigarette, the content of 34 flavoring chemicals (16 cooling/minty) was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results: Four of the sixteen test cigarette products were more frequently identified by participants as having a menthol/mint odor than reference products and had detectable levels of menthol/mint in the chemical tests. For four other test products, there was some discordance between the chemical and sensory assessments. Sensory testing also identified a fruity odor in six test products and a confectionary odor in one test product. The compounds dihydroxyacetone and triacetin were detected above the LLOQ in all products.

Conclusions: Four cigarette products for sale in England in 2021-2022 appeared non-compliant with the ban on menthol as a characterizing flavor in sensory and chemical tests.

Implications: Menthol is known to enhance the appeal of tobacco products, particularly among young people. The subjective nature of determining "characterizing" flavors in tobacco products creates compliance challenges. Our findings suggest that more stringent regulatory policies around flavoring additives used in tobacco products might be necessary. An outright ban on menthol, other minty flavorings, and additives not essential to the manufacturing process could provide clearer guidelines for manufacturers and regulators.