FDA: Menthols More Dangerous Than Regular Smokes

Cigarettes displayed in a store in New York, March 30 2010 file photo.

U.S. regulators say menthol cigarettes may be a bigger health hazard than regular cigarettes.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday studies show the menthol makes it harder for smokers to quit the deadly habit.

It also says menthol is the choice of more than 40 percent of all young smokers whose first cigarettes are often menthol-flavored.

FDA chief Margaret Hamburg says menthol cigarettes raise critical public health questions and may come under further rules and regulations.

Tobacco companies add menthol to some cigarette brands to cut down on the harshness of the smoke.

Some anti-smoking advocates want an outright ban on menthol cigarettes.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.