As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, parents can sleep a little easier knowing that their children will no longer be lured into smoking due to enticing flavors in cigarettes according to the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that was put into effect. This act prohibits the sale, distribution and manufacturing of candy and fruit flavored cigarettes in the United States. Signed by President Barack Obama on June 22, this act gives the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products, to limit tobacco companies’ ability to target youth and decrease smoking in the U.S. Flavors such as cherry, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, grape, clove, orange, pineapple, coconut, cinnamon, strawberry and licorice are all among the flavoring that will now be banned. Menthol flavored cigarettes, flavored smokeless tobacco, small cigars and cigarillos will still be allowed, but the FDA stated that they are looking into options for regulating these as well. Studies have shown that every day 3,600 children and teenagers start smoking and 1,100 become daily smokers. FDA’s ban on candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes highlights the importance of reducing the number of children who start to smoke, and who become addicted to dangerous tobacco products. As stated in the new act, in August 2006, United States district court judge decided that the major U.S. cigarette companies have continued to target and market to youth in addition to dramatically increasing their advertising and promotional spending in ways that encourage youth to start smoking. In time this will greatly impact the health care costs associated with chronic diseases caused by tobacco use and more adolescents will be less likely to become another statistic due to an addiction to tobacco. "These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers," Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of food and drugs, said in announcing the ban. For tobacco companies that should not even target youth with their marketing, this act is a stepping stone in the right direction.