Sales of cigars using the “natural” descriptor are increasing, according to Rutgers researchers. “Sales of cigars with a ‘natural’ descriptor are both prominent and growing,” said Ollie Ganz, an instructor in the Department of Health, Behavior, Society and Policy at the Rutgers School of Public Health and the lead author of a study published in the journal Tobacco Control. “This is concerning because we know from previous research that that the term ‘natural’ can decrease harm perceptions of the product, increase its appeal and influence people’s beliefs about the quality of the product and its users.” The study examined cigar sales data to assess trends in the sales of cigars that claimed to be natural in the packaging. They found that sales of cigars claiming to be natural increased at a faster pace – from 22.3 percent in 2017 to 33.9 percent in 2021 – than sales of cigars not making the same claim. To read the full story.