FDA Bans Nicotine Pops

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2002 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared that candy-flavored nicotine pops are illegal, and it warned independent pharmacists to stop issuing them to customers immediately.

The lollipops -- made in flavors such as watermelon, grape and tequila sunrise -- are supposed to help smokers break the habit. But the FDA said they posed a danger to children, who could ingest a harmful amount of nicotine. Additionally, the FDA said the form of nicotine used in the pops has not been tested and been shown to be safe and effective.

The pops were being sold around the country by "compounding" pharmacists -- pharmacists who are permitted to mix medications on their premises. The pops contain nicotine salicylate, instead of the nicotine polacrilex used in Nicorette gum.

With 57 million Americans smoking cigarettes and 30 million trying to quit each year, the pops quickly became a popular item after they were developed by an August, GA, pharmacist four years ago.

Pressure to ban the pops began building last week, when Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) wrote to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. Waxman said the pops posed "serious risks" to children and were potentially unsafe.

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