Anne Landman's Collection
Merit Banded Paper Update 20001204
Abstract
In the summer of 2000, Philip Morris (PM) introduced a new cigarette called "Merit PaperSelect," that was supposed to have a lower propensity to start fires. In the fall of 2000, PM ran a $20 million advertising campaign announcing that the new Merit was made with special paper and that it "may be less likely to ignite certain fabrics." An article in today's issue of the Wall Street Journal tells how the new Merit "PaperSelect" (banded paper) cigarettes actually pose more of a risk for fire injury than conventional cigarettes (Suit Alleges Philip Morris Hid Cigarette-Fire Risk, By Vanessa O'Connell, via Dow Jones Newswires, April 23, 2004 URL: http://framehosting.dowjonesnews.com/sample/samplestory.asp'StoryID=2004042303010005&Take=1). Internal emails from Philip Morris confirm that consumer complaints about Merit PaperSelect cigarettes indicated a distinct problem existed with Merit PaperSelect as early as 2000, the very year it was launched.
Today's document is a December 4, 2000 Philip Morris internal email discussing consumer complaints about the new cigarette. The email says PM received "105 complaint contacts for the weeks starting 11/27/2000 [about Merit PaperSelect cigarettes]...The 105 complaints are still 5 times normal levels." About complaints of lit coals dropping off the ends of the Merit cigarettes, the email states, "Normal Coal Drop off complaint levels are one complaint every two weeks and the 14 complaints last week [about Merit PaperSelect cigarettes] represents over 28 times normal levels."
The email also says,"...In 49% of the survey responses [smokers] are describing the entire lit section [of the Merit PaperSelect] as falling off the cigarette. The 86% of consumers are reporting the drop offs as frequent events. Over 67% of the incidents are reported while the cigarette is being held. In 74% of the incidents the consumers reported they were seated or driving." [Underlining emphasis added]. It also says "Alleged Property Damage" complaints from Merit PaperSelect cigarette "are still 10 times normal levels" for traditional cigarettes.
Despite these greatly elevated complaint rates about increased fire dangers from Merit PaperSelect, Philip Morris has issued no warning about the cigarette's increased fire danger. The WSJ article reports that the company has continued to market the cigarette, but has eliminated the "special advertising" about fire safety. As of this posting, (April 24, 2004) PM's web site still touts increased fire safety from the Merit PaperSelect, and carries no warning about the complaints indicating elevated fire danger. The web site says,
"Philip Morris USA has made significant progress in its efforts to develop a cigarette that is both reasonably acceptable to consumers and may be less likely to start fires if handled carelessly. Philip Morris USA's patented banded cigarette paper, PaperSelect™, is now available nationwide on the Merit brand family, and all Merit brand packs and cartons now bear the PaperSelect™ logo. ... using National Institute of Standards and Technology and other laboratory protocols, Philip Morris USA has evaluated cigarettes made with its banded cigarette paper and found them less likely than the same cigarettes made without this special paper to ignite certain test fabrics under specified test conditions." http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/policies_practices/legislation_regulation/reduced_ignition/pm_usa_position_reduced_ignition_propensity.asp
User-Contributed Notes
Fields
- Quotes
Complaint levels continue to drop for Merit banded paper for the week starting 11/27/2000....Note: The figures for the week starting 11/27/2000 only represented 4 days of call center availability.
COMPLAINT CONTACT LEVELS - 105 complaint contact for the weeks starting 11/27/2000. Complaint contacts peaked at 378 during the week of 10/16 and are now about one third that level. The 105 complaints are still 5 times normal levels...
The Coal Drop Off complaints - 14 for the week starting 11/27/2000. The Coal Drop Off complaint rates have decreased from teh peak 30 to 40 complaints per week in October (Normal Coal Drop Off complaint levels are one complaint every two weeks and the 14 complaints last week represents over 28times normal levels). The 100 mmp roducts Coal Drop Off/Ash Fall rates continue to be 3 times higher than the rates for similar products in King Size.
The Ash Fall Off complaints -- 18 for the week starting 11/27/2000. This was the second highest level for this category. Ash Fall Off refers to consumers complaints that the ashes are continually flaking off. The continual flaking off is not allowing the consumer to maintain the ash on the cigarette until it reaches an ash tray following a draw.
...--Only 43% of the complaints about drop-off incidents are referring to the ashes alone. IN 49% of the survey responses they are describing the entire lit section as falling off the cigarette. The 86% of consumers are reporting the drop offs as frequent events. Over 67% of the incidents are reported while the cigarette is being held. In 74% of the incidents the consumer reported they were seated or driving...
- Author
- Warwick, W.R.
- Recipient
- Carboni, J.
- Compton, D.
- Fenner, R.
- Garguilo, T.
- Hawkins, M.
- Hofler, J.
- Jeltema, M.
- Lilly, A.
- Lisbon, D.
- Mccomb, A.
- Murray, T.
- Nyffeler, U.
- Phan, T.
- Rudd, A.
- Slagle, J.
- Smith, J.
- Watkins, M.
- Wettle, L.
- Named Organization
- Richmond Complaint Unit
- Litigation
- Feda/Produced
- Type
- EMAI, E-MAIL
- Subject
- fire safe cigarette
- Failure to warn
- Defective product
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