Pubdate: Wed, 29 May 2002 Source: Advertiser, The (Australia) Copyright: 2002 Advertiser Newspapers Ltd Contact: http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1 Authors: Samantha Maiden and Leanne Craig CONCERNS OVER MINTS SHAPED LIKE ECSTASY DRUG HEALTH ministers have raised concerns over a new range of tablet-shaped mints that look similar to the illegal drug ecstasy. Advertisement The sugar-free "24-7" mints are marketed by Cadbury in push-button packs containing white pill-shaped mints. An official website for the mints features "24-7" adventures in a nightclub with a cartoon DJ shaking a container of the mints as he mixes dance music. Echoing the debate about the cigarette-shaped lollies that were called "FAGS", health experts fear the new mints send the wrong message on substance abuse. Parliamentary Secretary for Health Trish Worth said last night the mints and their marketing would be reviewed by the Department of Health and Aged Care. "Our concern is that this product is being manufactured and marketed to appeal to young people because it so closely resembles ecstasy," she said. "There's a double concern here that it's being marketed to impressionable young people and that someone could replace the mints with ecstasy because they look so similar. In the same way that drinks can be spiked, this is something that would be difficult to detect." State Health Minister Lea Stevens said she was concerned about the product, which had been discussed at the Australian/New Zealand Food Standards Council meeting in Sydney on Friday. " While it isn't technically illegal, it is worrying that a product made to look like an illegal drug is being marketed to our teenagers and other people," Ms Stevens said. She said the council, which consisted of government ministers responsible for food products, had asked for a working group to be set up to look at ways of regulating such products. Victorian Health Minister John Thwaites raised the issue following concerns the mints "mix drug messages". "It potentially promotes a drug-taking culture," Mr Thwaites' spokeswoman said. The mints will be referred to the Australian New Zealand Food Authority and Health Department officers to decide whether the company should be asked to change its promotions. A spokesman for Cadbury was unavailable for comment last night. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex