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HROWN & WILLIAMSON TOBACCO CORPORATION RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING FILE NOTE TITLE: ODOR PROBLEM WITH VISA PLASTIC FACKAGING?/278 AUTHOR: D. V. Cantrell DATE: January 28, 1985 CC: Mr. E. E. Kohnhorst, Mr. M. L. Reynolds, Mr. T. F. Riehl, Mr. Mr. R. M. T. A. Lewis, Dr. Schreiber, J. Mr. H. S. Lauterbach, Mr. W. L. Tucker, Moss, Mr. K. A. Flaherty Corporately, the plastic package is considered the primary packaging style for VISA, with V-Fan and FOB as secondary styles. One major concern about using a plastic pack is whether a plastic odor might taint the cigarettes and thereby impart an off-taste. This concern is being explored in the following manner: 1. We have received from Janter Corporation plastic containers (mugs) made of the same material planned for VISA, polypropylene. We also received the polypropylene resin (supplied by Hercules, with specs), a sample with pigmented polypropylene, and a sample of pigment in freeze-dried form. John Lauterbach will perform head-space GC/MS purge-and-trap on all three samples. 2. Since the mugs are larger in size than a VISA package and open at the top, an attempt to duplicate normal packaging for an accelerated aging study would yield questionable results. Therefore, we plan to place a foil bundle of VISA cigarettes surrounded by pieces of the shattered mug (achieved by freezing in liquid nitrogen and then shattering) i a sealed glass container and conduct an initial screening at elevated temperatures and cimes to determine if an unacceptable plastic odor is present and/or has tainted the cigarettes' taste. If so, we will request through Purchasing Department another supplier's resin. We are told that some suppliers of polypropylene are better than others with respect to odor. 3. We will also discuss with BATUKSE their experience with the JOHN PLAYERS SPECIAL plastic "drum" pack which they currently market. Their input could be quite valuable. 6206085'74

The plastic odor/taint question must be resolved before March 1, since this date has been set as a drop dead date on whether to cease or to proceed with the plastic packaging for VISA. D. V. C. DVC/vr 0495j 620608575