The controversy and criticism is growing around the dissolvable tobacco products, marketed by some of the largest tobacco companies across the USA.

Katherine King, a senior nurse at one of the schools in Ohio says that the products like Camel Orbs can easily pass as candies to an average adult, and this has been the cause of the biggest concern for the public health officials, since such products can be especially attractive for the adolescents. “I am highly concerned that these products look like innocent candies that are easy to hide and consume, but provide a high doze of nicotine, sufficient to poison an average,” added King, head of the Ohio Association of School Nurses.

That appeal to adolescents and probable health risks has caused Sen. Sherrod Brown to introduce a measure to prohibit sales of dissolvable smokeless tobacco across the USA.

According to the letter written by Sen. Brown to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dissolvable tobacco is the latest way to lure adolescents to nicotine consumption and maintain addiction to nicotine.

As Sherrod Brown is the junior United States Senator from Ohio, he is especially concerned, since Columbus is one of three cities across the nation, where Reynolds American test-markets is latest product, Camel Orbs Sticks and Strips, finely milled dissolvable tobacco products coming in a variety of flavors.

The Tobacco Control Act approved by the Congress last year already provides a requirement for the FDA to carry out a report on the effects of dissolvable tobacco on both adult consumers, adolescents and children.

However a research revealed in March raised the concerns among scientists and legislators by discovering that dissolvable smokeless tobacco items could lead to an accidental poisoning by the infants due to their colorful packs, candy-like look and sweet flavors. So, the lawmakers are urging the FDA to act instantly, especially as the Agency has already confirmed its concerns by the products.

Two months ago, Lawrence Deyton, head of the Center of Tobacco Products, a department within the FDA, notified the Reynolds American, which manufactures the Camel dissolvables and Star Scientific, maker of Ariva and Stonewall dissolvable tobacco, to send the CTP all the available information regarding those products.

Deyton said that Center of Tobacco Products is highly concerned that kids and teenagers can be lured by dissolvable tobacco, due to their vivid packs, candy-like look, convenient sizes and high level of nicotine contained in those products that can result in poisoning in infants and nicotine addiction in adolescents.

Star Scientific responded that they have launched their dissolvable tobacco brands in 2001, so theyr are not new-comers to the U.S. tobacco market, and added they have not heard about any case of nicotine poisoning since the launch of those products.

Reynolds American as well commented on the issue, saying the people they are trying to appeal with Camel dissolvable tobacco is adult tobacco users, as they are willing to have smokeless tobacco products to get nicotine shots in those places where smoking is prohibited. Moreover, dissolvable products are packed in childproof packaging and selling in the same store section with conventional tobacco, where kids under 18 are not allowed to enter.

By Sara Norton, Staff Writer. Copyright © 2010 Cigarette-Store.org. All rights reserved.