Why Joe Biden Is Banning Menthol Cigarettes On 4/30/21 at 9:37 AM EDT The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will be "working toward issuing proposed product standards within the next year" to ban menthol cigarettes, it revealed on Thursday. The ban aims to "reduce tobacco addiction and curb deaths" and "address health disparities," the FDA said in a statement. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said on Thursday: "Banning menthol—the last allowable flavor—in cigarettes and banning all flavors in cigars will help save lives, particularly among those disproportionately affected by these deadly products. "Armed with strong scientific evidence, and with full support from the [Biden] Administration, we believe these actions will launch us on a trajectory toward ending tobacco-related disease and death in the U.S."