Menthol doesn't kill people -- cigarettes that are tastier and easier to smoke because of menthol do. The FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee blandly concluded that removing menthol from cigarettes would improve public health, but in the current pro-economic recovery environment, there is no political will to take on Big Tobacco, Siegel, Benowitz and Samet say in 2 editorials. NEJM 2011;364:2177-2179 and 2179-2181. FREE FULL TEXT