Legislation granting the regulation of tobacco by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If the new bill passes the House and Senate, it will allow the FDA to regulate tobacco advertising and monitor the ingredients in tobacco products. Opponents of the legislation argue that the FDA cannot handle their current responsibilities, citing the recent salmonella outbreaks. They also argue that the law is unecessary because tobacco companies already self-regulate their advertising techniques. But let's be clear: the issue is not the inadequacies of the FDA. The issue is that tobacco products are the number one cause of preventable disease and death.
