The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) began a three day advisory committee meeting on Wednesday, discussing the safety and risks of dissolvable tobacco products, reports the International Business Times.

According to David Ashley, director of the Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products, FDA, the committee will look at the risks and benefits to the population as a whole including users and nonusers of tobacco products, the likelihood that existing users of tobacco products will stop, and the likelihood that those who don't use tobacco products will start using them.
The dissolvable products are flavored mints, strips and sticks of smokeless tobacco designed for nicotine intake in places where smoking is banned. Products currently being tested are from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Star Scientific Inc. (pi)