Anne Landman's Collection
Memorandum From Philip Morris Employee to Philip Morris Employee and Philip Morris Counsel Regarding Federal Trade Commission Staff Report. (More descriptive name: "Memo conveying PM attorney's doubts about the 'Chill Blend' additive WS-14")
Abstract
This 1981 internal Philip Morris (PM) memo reveals doubts that PM lawyer Fred Newman had about public statements PM was making on a new additive in Northwind brand cigarettes. Internally the additive was called WS-14. In Northwind cigarettes PM referred to it as "Chill Blend." WS-14 caused a cooling sensation similar to menthol. Newman's statements reveal his doubts about the adequacy of PM's testing on WS-14:
"...I am not confident that the testing we did conduct would withstand FDA scrutiny."
Newman questioned the wisdom of a press statement about Northwind which named the independent testing laboratories that PM used to test WS-14. Newman cautioned against naming the laboratories, saying that if contacted and questioned, they would be unlikely to endorse the additive:
"I think it is logical to expect that any interested person investigating Northwind would contact the labs and ask for their evaluations of the cigarette. If this is done, the best response that could be hoped for is that Northwind does not increase the risk involved in smoking cigarettes. That is hardly an endorsement. On the other hand, given the overall anti-smoking bias of the laboratories, the more likely response would include a statement condemning cigarette smoking."
Newman also recommended eliminating statements in the press release that invited public policy on cigarette additives, saying "...[W]e ought not refer to any public policy interest in testing additives."
Fields
- Notes
Thanks to Bill Farone for highlighting the importance of this memo. Original document code was 22122.
- Quotes
From: F. Newman To: A Holtzman Subject: Northwind -
COMMENTS ON 3RD TIER INQUIRIES:
There are some problems with the proposed press statement.
1. Chill Blend is described as "structurally related to menthol." This is not technically correct. At best the molecular structure is "structurally similar." (See attached drawing).
2. The media statement goes beyond the advertising copy we have approved in describing the "coolness" of the cgiarette. IN our advertising we say, "No cigarette cools like NORTHWIND. NORTHWIND'S exclusive Chill Blend has no menthol. Yet, it gives smokers an all-new cool and refreshing sensation. New NORTHWIND...it cools like no menthol can." Contrast this with the media statement which says that Northwind delivers a "much cooler test sensation than menthol." Substantiation may be required.
3. I think Jerome Chapman made an excellet point in suggesting that we ought not to refer to any public policy interest in testing additives.
4. The media statement endorses the new Food and Drug testing protocol. This is a procedure we may not want to acknowledge as appropriate for cigarettes. In addition, I am not confident that the testing we did conduct would withstand FDA scrutiny.
5. Question whether identifying the independent testing laboratories will produce the desired effect. I think it is logical to expect that any interested person investigating Northwind would contact the labs and ask for their evaluation of the cigartte. If this is done, the best response that could be hoped for is that Northwind does not increase the risk involved in smoking cigarettes. That is hardly an endorsement. On the other hand, given the overall anti-smoking bias of the laboratories, the more likely response would include a statement condemning cigarette smoking.
- Company
- Philip Morris Cos., Inc.
- Author
- Newman, F.
- Recipient
- Holtzman, A.
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