FDA Probes Marketing of Marlboro Lights

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — concerned that Philip Morris may be trying to skirt new regulations banning the marketing of so-called “light” cigarettes — is demanding that the cigarette firm turn over its marketing information for Marlboro Lights.

Reuters reported June 17 that FDA made the demand after Philip Morris added notices to packs of Marlboro Lights advising customers that the brand will now be dubbed “Marlboro Gold.”

“By stating that only the packaging is changing, but the cigarettes will stay the same, the onsert suggests that Marlboro in the gold pack will have the same characteristics as Marlboro Lights, including any mistaken attributes associated with the ’light’ cigarettes,” according to FDA’s letter to Altria Group, Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris.