Candy Cigarettes May Lead to the Real Thing

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"It strikes me as insane that we would manufacture candy that would teach kids how to use a product that will kill half of them," said Danny McGoldrick, research director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "It is completely irresponsible to be selling products that teach kids how to use what is ultimately a deadly product."

McGoldrick sees the sweets as the first step along a path that leads to smoking for real.

"With tobacco companies introducing flavored cigarette products, it looks like the first step in a progression from learning and thinking that it's cool to smoke cigarettes to moving up to the real thing and being addicted for a lifetime," McGoldrick said.

Parents shouldn't let children have these products, McGoldrick said. "And retailers shouldn't be selling these things," he added.

More information

For more information on children and smoking, visit the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.