Characterization of measured menthol in 48 U.S. cigarette sub-brands

More than 25% of cigarettes sold in the United States are branded as mentholated, and these cigarettes are smoked disproportionately among populations with disparate tobacco-related health outcomes. This study is the first (independent of the tobacco industry) to report menthol for 48 popular commercially available mentholated cigarette sub-brands. The dependent variable "menthol per cigarette" was obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer assay, whereas average per-cigarette milligram weight of tobacco filler ("tobacco per cigarette") was determined gravimetrically. Pearson's correlations assessed associations among continuous variables. Analyses of variance assessed mean differences on the independent variables of interest: manufacturer, brand family, industry descriptors of length (100 mm and King [85 mm]) and label (ultralight, light, medium/mild, and regular/full flavor), and a category constructed by the authors of exclusively menthol brand families (those without a non-menthol offering; Kool, Newport, and Salem) versus others (GPC, Camel, and Marlboro). Results showed menthol per cigarette and menthol per tobacco (i.e., milligrams of menthol per gram of tobacco filler) to be significantly greater in cigarettes labeled with industry descriptors of ultralight or light, belying the common consumer perception that "light" means less. Menthol per cigarette and tobacco per cigarette were significantly greater in 100-mm compared with 85-mm cigarettes. The study results are consistent with prior research that suggests menthol may be used to offset reductions in smoke delivery or impact and to facilitate compensatory smoke inhalation behaviors in smokers of cigarettes with reduced machine-measured smoke delivery. Tobacco manufacturers should be required by federal or other regulatory agencies to report the amount of menthol added to cigarettes.