Last Updated: May 19, 2023By Tags: , ,

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned tobacco companies R.J. Reynolds and ITG Brands LLC that their new cigarettes appear to violate the state’s ban on most flavored tobacco products, which voters upheld last year.

The companies have until June 23 to respond to the allegations, which include claims that the promotional materials and packaging for nine reformulated versions of Camel, Newport, and Kool cigarettes violate California’s ban on menthol-flavored cigarettes.

The attorney general’s letters to the tobacco companies include examples of marketing materials and a side-by-side comparison of the similar-looking menthol and non-menthol cigarette packaging.

The AG’s letters assert that the companies promote the new varieties “as substitutes or replacements” for menthol-flavored cigarettes.