Are herbal cigarettes and so-called “herbal tobacco alternatives” really safe? If you thought so, it’s time to reconsider. A recent study has uncovered alarming findings—herbal cigarettes and tobacco-related products are being openly sold on popular e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Blinkit without any official health clearance or government approval.

This revelation comes from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) through its specialized wing, the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR).

Misleading Safety Claims

According to researchers, Herbal Tobacco Cessation Products (HTCPs)—available in the form of capsules, lozenges, powders, and herbal smoke—are being marketed as natural and safe alternatives. These are even promoted as aids for quitting smohttps://english.techneandlogos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/101.jpg.

However, Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, lead author of the study and a scientist at ICMR-NICPR, stated:

“Most of these herbal products are freely available on Indian e-commerce platforms. Their health claims are unverified, and there is almost no regulatory oversight. This not only raises serious safety concerns for consumers but also poses a significant challenge to tobacco control.”

Startling Findings

The study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, examined five major platforms—Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, JioMart, and Meesho. Researchers identified 316 different herbal tobacco products being sold online. Shochttps://english.techneandlogos.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/101.jpgly, only 0.5% of these products referenced the World Health Organization (WHO), a move the researchers described as “misleading promotion.”

Even more worrying:

• 43.7% claimed to offer detoxification and stress-relief benefits, without scientific evidence.

• Only 12% mentioned age restrictions, and none had effective age verification systems, meaning minors can easily access them.

Types, Flavors & Pricing

These herbal products were found in three main categories:

• Combustible products (42.7%)

• Raw herbal preparations (34.5%)

• Other forms (22.8%) such as gums, drops, capsules, and patches

They are available in flavors like apple, betel leaf (paan), and rose (gulkand). Prices ranged widely from ₹15 to ₹1,467, with the costliest items listed on Amazon.

Questionable Certifications

Interestingly, 62.3% of these products claimed some form of certification, including:

• ISO (23.4%)

• AYUSH certifications (20.3%)

• Good Manufacturing Practice (15.2%)

• FSSAI (13.2%)

Yet, the study concluded that these certifications do not guarantee product safety or effectiveness.

Call for Urgent Regulation

Dr. Singh emphasized the need for stricter monitoring, authenticity checks, and laws aligned with WHO’s tobacco control framework. Without regulation, this unmonitored market threatens not only public health but also India’s overall tobacco control program.