Four Indian 'bidi' brands have been ordered off the US market by the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA), , reports the New York Times.
 "This is first time the FDA has ordered a product to be removed from the market for broad public health concerns," said Matthew L. Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy group.
The FDA was bestowed the legal authority in 2009.
"It's also significant that they did so because the manufacturer was unable or unwilling to provide sufficient evidence that the product didn't raise new or different concerns for public health," Myers added.
The products are Sutra Bidis Red, Sutra Bidis Menthol, Sutra Bidis Red Cone and Sutra Bidis Menthol Cone. The FDA will begin seizing these bidi packets if they are not taken off the shelves within 30 days.    -bdnews24.com