NY Times editors make more false claims about nicotine and e-cigs to lobby for FDA regulation

[Bill Godshall]

Lobbying for counterproductive FDA regulations, NY Times editors once again make false fear mongering claims about nicotine and e-cigs
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/opinion/europe-cracks-down-on-tobacco.html?

The most controversial part of the European rules concerned electronic cigarettes, the battery-powered devices that people use to inhale nicotine vapors. These devices are safer than conventional cigarettes because they do not contain carcinogens and other toxic substances from burning tobacco. But nicotine in any form is highly addictive and can be dangerous, especially to young people. Under pressure from the makers of e-cigarettes, European lawmakers rejected a proposal to regulate those products as drug-delivery devices. But they did vote to confine their sale to adults and applied the same marketing and advertising rules to these products that apply to conventional cigarettes — a significant improvement.

Then it says

Only 23 American states have banned the sale of e-cigarettes to people younger than 18, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. The F.D.A. has said it intends to regulate these devices as tobacco products, but after years of studying the issue, it has not done so.

but fails to point out the CTFK has been lobbying against state laws that ban e-cig sales to minors.

Even worse, today's NY Times print edition includes a second headline (below Europe Cracks Down on Tobacco) that falsely states
"New rules would restrict the use of electronic cigarettes and eventually ban flavored ones"

But the EU Parliament approved TPD wouldn't restrict the use of e-cig, nor would it eventually ban flavored e-cigs.

 

[Luisa]

Lobbying for counterproductive FDA regulations, NY Times editors once again make false fear mongering claims about nicotine and e-cigs
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/opinion/europe-cracks-down-on-tobacco.html?I hope the FDA might take note of the EU ruling.



Then it says

but fails to point out the CTFK has been lobbying against state laws that ban e-cig sales to minors.

Even worse, today's NY Times print edition includes a second headline (below Europe Cracks Down on Tobacco) that falsely states
"New rules would restrict the use of electronic cigarettes and eventually ban flavored ones"

But the EU Parliament approved TPD wouldn't restrict the use of e-cig, nor would it eventually ban flavored e-cigs.

I hope the FDA would take note of the EU ruling.

 

[Uma]

How pompous! There is no way to comment, question, discuss, correct, in their pompous editorials. Time to send in letters to the editor, as well as editorial suggestions for the more honest journalists amongst us.

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

After reading through it a few times it sounds like they just copied and pasted a Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids press release and posted it as an editorial.