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Newport Beach's Oral Cancer Foundation wages war against cigarettes
Nonprofit calls for Senate to grant the FDA authority over tobacco products.
By Kristen SchottPublished: April 16, 2009 02:37 PM
Newport Beach-based Oral Cancer Foundation is among a group of organizations – including the American Heart Association and American Lung Association – that are calling for the U.S. Senate to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products. The House of Representatives voted to give the FDA permission on April 2. The Senate is expected to review its version of the bill later this month.
The call to action follows the tobacco industry's most aggressive marketing campaign targeted at women and girls in over a decade, according to the nonprofit.
"The percentage of oral cancer patients represented by women has increased tremendously over the past four decades," says Brian Hill, founder of the Oral Cancer Foundation, "and we believe the marketing efforts of the tobacco industry is a major causal factor."
Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds began promotions over the last few years that show cigarettes to be feminine, fashionable and romantic, according to a recent report from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, among others. Entitled "Deadly in Pink: Big Tobacco Steps Up Its Targeting of Women and Girls," the study shows that Philip Morris repackaged its Virginia Slims brand in 2008 into packets resembling cosmetic cases and easily fit in purses. Similarly, R.J. Reynolds' 2007 campaign promoted a new version of the Camel cigarettes – Camel No. 9. The products come in shiny black boxes with pink and teal borders.
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The call to action follows the tobacco industry's most aggressive marketing campaign targeted at women and girls in over a decade, according to the nonprofit. "The percentage of oral cancer patients represented by women has increased tremendously over the past four decades," says Brian Hill, founder of the Oral Cancer Foundation, "and we believe the marketing efforts of the tobacco industry is a major causal factor." Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds began promotions over the last few years that show cigarettes to be feminine, fashionable and romantic, according to a recent report from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association and American Lung Association, among others. Entitled "Deadly in Pink: Big Tobacco Steps Up Its Targeting of Women and Girls," the study shows that Philip Morris repackaged its Virginia Slims brand in 2008 into packets resembling cosmetic cases and easily fit in purses. Similarly, R.J. Reynolds' 2007 campaign promoted a new version of the Camel cigarettes – Camel No. 9. The products come in shiny black boxes with pink and teal borders. NEXT PAGE >> Related headlines UC Irvine gears up for biotechnology conference Fountain Valley's Alpine Biomed opens production facility in Vietnam Fountain Valley's Hyundai launches Hope on Wheels tour |
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