Plant-based menthol cigarettes? Food industry trends and farm-to-pack cigarette advertising

Dairy-free milk, vegan eggs, meatless burgers and...plant-based cigarettes? While the proliferation of plant-based products is most commonly associated with food and beverages,1 2 Winston’s new packaging and advertising—highlighting ‘100% plant-based menthol’ (figure 1) and ‘farm to pack’ (figure 2) cigarettes—suggest that the tobacco industry is tapped into some of today’s most popular food trends. These marketing strategies are well aligned with the tobacco industry’s history of using language and imagery that communicate reduced health risks and environmental sustainability,3–5 as well as its long-standing connections to the food industry.6 7 Figure 1Advertisement for Winston’s menthol cigarettes as seen in the October 2020 issue of Rolling Stone. The term ‘plant-based’ appears three times: in the headline, copy and image of the cigarette pack. The pack is placed next to an...

Source: Tobacco Control - March 17, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Raskind, I. G., Prochaska, J. J., Epperson, A. E., Henriksen, L. Tags: Ad watch Source Type: research