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Controversy

FDA Fights Indonesian Smokes

Is the kretek a cigar or cigarette?

cheats/2009/10/27/fda-fights-indonesian-smokes/clove-cigarettes_imqvao

A few weeks ago the FDA banned clove cigarettes, saying that the sweet smelling smoke was attractive to children. As soon as that ruling became the law of the land, a California tobacco importer began selling kretek, the smoke of choice for Indonesia, arguing that the orange-scented cigarette was actually a cigar. The FDA cried foul and Kretek International Inc. countered with a suit, saying "If a product is a cigar, it is not a cigarette and vice versa. Kretek contends that Djarum cigars are cigars." The case is pending as is the American consumer's decision whether the Djarum cigar is really a cigar.

Read it at Wall Street Journal

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