FDA Pushes Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs

Tobacco use is responsible for about 443,000 deaths per year.  These images are part of a new campaign announced by the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. (Food and Drug Administration)

The new labels will warn of the effects of cancer, heart problems, pregnancy and secondhand smoke.  A report from the surgeon general found that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes breathing (respiratory) symptoms and slows lung growth in their children. (Food and Drug Administration)

Even though the number of Americans who smoke has fallen in the past 40 years—the number has recently come to a standstill. About 46 million adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes, with 19.5 percent of those being high school students. More than 85 percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers or former smokers. According to the CDC, lung cancer is the No.1 cancer killer. (Food and Drug Administration)

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said in a news release that she believes the visual on the label of cigarettes is a crucial step toward reducing the smoking death toll. "The health consequences of smoking will be obvious every time someone picks up a pack of cigarettes," she said. (Food and Drug Administration)

The final label will include a graphic accompanied by required warning text. 

This graphic photo of a corpse accompanies the "Smoking can kill you," warning label. 

This is one of the nine new warning labels the Food and Drug Administration released that depict in graphic detail the negative health effects of tobacco use. (FDA)

This ad released by the Food and Drug Administration show a man who quit smoking. The FDA released nine graphic images to deter people from smoking. (FDA)

This ad released by the Food and Drug Administration shows the effects of smoking during pregnancy. (FDA)