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                Health Effects of Tobacco Use

Health Effects of Tobacco Use

                        Nicotine Is Why Tobacco Products Are Addictive
          How Smoking Affects Heart Health
          Keep Your Air Clear: How Tobacco Can Harm Your Lungs
          How Smoking Can Increase Risk for and Affect Diabetes
          Chemicals in Tobacco Products and Your Health
          What It’s Like to Quit Smoking
          How Smoking Affects Reproductive Health
          How Smoking Can Contribute to Vision Loss and Blindness
          Health Fraud
          Quitting Smoking and Other Tobacco Public Health Resources Home
          Tobacco Products
          Public Health Education
          Health Effects of Tobacco Use
          Health FraudHealth Effects of Tobacco Use Health Fraud
  
  	
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    PrintTobacco-Related Health Fraud

All tobacco products are harmful to your health, despite what they taste, smell, or look like.1 Claiming less harm or reduced risk of disease from using tobacco products can mislead consumers to think that these products are safe to use. FDA considers these kinds of unauthorized claims to be health fraud.

Explicit or implied claims of reduced harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease can only be made after scientific evidence to support those claims has been submitted to FDA, and FDA has issued an order permitting their marketing use. These requirements were put in place so that American tobacco consumers are not misled about the harms of tobacco products. See Modified Risk Orders for a list of tobacco products that have met the requirements permitting them to make claims of reduced risk or harm to users and nonusers.

What is Tobacco-Related Health Fraud?

False or misleading claims in the promotion, labeling, advertising, distribution or sale of tobacco products, including suggestions that a tobacco product is safer, less harmful, contains a reduced level or is free of a harmful substance, or presents a lower risk of tobacco-related disease compared to other tobacco products.

Examples of Tobacco-Related Health Fraud

FDA has issued a number of warning letters for illegally marketing tobacco products and using claims or descriptions that may mislead consumers by suggesting reduced harm or risk in using a tobacco product. The letters cited several, specific examples of tobacco-related health fraud including:

Marketing, advertising or promotional claims that suggest the product is safer, healthier or less risky to use, like:
	“Safe Smoke Filter”
		“Less Toxic”
	Labels, internet sites, or other promotions that describe a tobacco product as “Light,” “Low,” or “Mild”
	Letters, presentations, or other actions directed to consumers indicating FDA approval or authorization is assured or imminent.Health Fraud Example 1

Health fraud example displaying a tobacco ad stating, filters can remove seven times more tar and nicotine, making a less toxic product.

**Health Fraud Example 1:** The fictional ABC Cigarette promotion describes their product as "light," and claims that the filter "removes seven times more tar and nicotine." These claims may be misleading, suggesting a reduced harm. Both of these claims require scientific evidence and an order from FDA before they can be used.

Health Fraud Example 2

Smokeless Tobacco

***Health Fraud Example 2**: While the fictional XYZ brand of smokeless tobacco displays the required warning statement, the label also states that XYZ brand is a "less toxic product." This is an example of health fraud unless this claim was submitted to FDA with supporting scientific evidence and FDA issued an order.*



Report Violations

If you see tobacco retailers market or promote their products as “light,” “low,” “mild” or somehow safer to consume, please report it immediately to:

CTPcompliance@fda.hhs.gov or 1-877-287-1373 Option 3
	Report a Potential Tobacco ViolationAppropriate enforcement actions will be pursued to protect public health once violations are verified.

Detailed information related to any unexpected tobacco- or e-cigarette-related health or product issues can also be reported to the FDA via the online Safety Reporting Portal.

Related Regulatory, Guidance & Compliance Information

Overview of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

	Section 902 – Adulterated Tobacco Products
		Section 903 – Misbranded Tobacco Products
		Section 911 – Modified Risk Tobacco Products
	Guidance: Use of “Light,” “Mild,” “Low,” or Similar Descriptors in the Label, Labeling, or Advertising of Tobacco Products
	Warning Letters Sent from FDA about Tobacco-Related Health Fraud – select “Center for Tobacco Products” in the dropdown menu for “Issuing Office”References
	1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease. The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease (Executive Summary). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2010.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      10/24/2019
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 TobaccoHealth Effects of Tobacco Use

          
                        Nicotine Is Why Tobacco Products Are Addictive
          How Smoking Affects Heart Health
          Keep Your Air Clear: How Tobacco Can Harm Your Lungs
          How Smoking Can Increase Risk for and Affect Diabetes
          Chemicals in Tobacco Products and Your Health
          What It’s Like to Quit Smoking
          How Smoking Affects Reproductive Health
          How Smoking Can Contribute to Vision Loss and Blindness
          Health Fraud
          Quitting Smoking and Other Tobacco Public Health Resources
 
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