SALT LAKE CITY - Under a bill introduced last week in Utah's state legislature, flavored nicotine candies and mints, tobacco and moist snuff would be illegal, KCPW News reports.

The proposal is a stricter version of a failed bill from earlier this year and is intended to protect children who are attracted to fruit-flavored nicotine-laced candies.

Utah's Department of Health conducted a study on nicotine novelties and found that children are confused by the products, with 40 percent saying they would consider trying them based just on their attractive packaging.

However, many Utah merchants object to the bill, saying flavored nicotine products aren't intended for children, and any bill addressing the issue would be embarking on a slippery slope.

"Today, we??re talking about tobacco and tomorrow it may be caffeine, because it has some of the same characteristics as well," said Dave Davis, a spokesperson for a Utah merchants group. "And further on down the road, the government may decide that maybe that Twinkie is not so good for you, or trans-fats."

The proposal would make it a misdemeanor to buy or sell flavored tobacco and nicotine candies, though it exempts electronic cigarettes.