If you smoke...you may have some surprises in your pack..read this !

[MORTARDUDE]

http://www.thememoryhole.org/corp/ci...les.htmTobacco Company Documents:

Cigarettes Infested With Beetles

>>> From the Daily Document email list by Anne Landman, Tobacco Document Research Specialist, American Lung Association of Colorado:


Insect Complaint

Date of Document: September 18, 1998

This confidential Philip Morris (PM) memo reveals that cigarette beetle infestation can affect finished tobacco products. Further investigation of the beetle infestation problem on the PM site revealed that a number of consumers contacted PM complaining of physical illness after smoking beetle-infested cigarettes. Investigation of these complaints reveals the following:

One consumer complained of a sore throat and returned the product to Philip Morris, who analyzed it. Cigarettes were analyzed and beetle infestation was found [document].

Another consumer went to see the doctor for what she believed was a lung infection, but it turned out she didn't have one. Beetle infestation was found in her cigarettes. The customer reported that "ever since she smoked those cigarettes she's had a hard time breathing" [document].

A consumer reported nausea. Cigarettes were analyzed and showed beetle infestation [document].

Here is a confidential photograph of a cigarette showing beetle damage (chew holes, etc.):



[see this document at the Philip Morris site]

Perhaps smokers should be made more aware that despite use of insecticides on tobacco, cigarettes can still contain beetles and their larvae.



COMPANY: Philip Morris
Type: Memorandum, confidential
Author: Coar, Denise
Recipient: Rudd, Alisia
Subject: Contaminants
Region: United States
Litigation: FEDA/Produced
Date Loaded onto PM Web site: 20020306
Document date: 19980918
Site: Philip Morris Tobacco Document site: http://www.pmdocs.com/
Bates No.: 2074124405
Non-Bates ID# (Trial Exhibit Number, etc.): None
URL: http://www.pmdocs.com/getallimg.asp?...CID=2074124405
No. of Pages: 1

Quotes

Nine open Cambridge packs were examined to identify the insects causing the infestation. Live cigarette beetle adults were observed crawling throughout the sample bag, the open carton and the individual packs of cigarettes. Copius amounts of cigarette beetles frass [i.e., debris and excrement] were found throughout each pack, the carton and the sample bag. Extensive damage caused by cigarette beetle exploration and chewing was found in at least 80% of the cigarettes in any pack. Examination of the individual packs revealed 1-3 mm holes in the overwrap on and around the tax stamp on each pack. These holes, which were caused by the application of the tax stamp using heat, probably allowed entry of cigarette beetle adults into the packs. The presence of these holes indicates that the infestation occurred during distribution.

I am unaware of any references in published literature relating to the presence of cigarette beetles to the development of any medical condition including hives.


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