Daily Doc: PM, Oct 14, 1979: Burned theobromine: no hot fudge sundae!
Daily Doc: Burned theobromine: no hot fudge sundae!
Title: FREE "Cigarettes" and Cocoa Bean Toxicity
PM, Oct 14, 1979
Bates #: 1000774089 - 1000774093
February 19, 2000
In late 1977 a new, no-tobacco smoking product was put on the market called FREE. It was test-marketed in Modesto, California by International Brands. The chairman of International Brands was a former sales division manager for R.J. Reynolds. International Brands claimed that FREE was "the most significant advance ever made to produce a truly satisfying tobacco-free cigarette." FREE was made of cocoa bean hulls. After a year of test-marketing in California, International Brands started selectively distributing FREE nationwide through tobacco specialty shops, in regular and menthol form. FREE also did not carry a health warning, since it was a non-tobacco product. This apparently was somewhat disturbing to Philip Morris.
Philip Morris (PM) examined FREE in their labs to see how it compared to regular tobacco cigarettes, particularly their brand, MARLBORO. They found that the chemical products produced from burning cocoa were substantially similar to those that result from burning tobacco. In many cases they were worse. The following document is Philip Morris' assessment of FREE, and discussion of the toxicity of cocoa (theobromine). PM concludes that pyrolized (or burned) theobromine has adverse health effects. Philip Morris routinely uses cocoa in its own products. (By the way, one of the products they mention is produced, formic acid, is the chemical in red-ant bites that makes you itch.)
Still, PM concluded that there was much more to FREE chemically than federal regulatory agencies were aware, and that because of this, these agencies were "somewhat misguided" in not requiring a health warning for FREE cigarettes. (This appears to be tantamount to an admission that their own products have adverse health effects.) The PM scientist writing the paper then sums up the chemical analysis of FREE cigarettes by saying:
"In conclusion, there is much more than is readily apparent to this product for 'health-conscious smokers.'"
Hmmm....
He then adds,
"It is safe to say that smoking FREE is not like eating a hot fudge sundae!!"
Neither is smoking tobacco, we might add.
CITATION
Title: FREE "Cigarettes" and Cocoa Bean Toxicity
Type of Document: Report, memo
Author: M.D. Rosenburg/J.E. John/S.A. Hutcheson, Philip Morris
To: Dr. E.B. Seligman, Philip Morris
Date: 19791014
Site: U.S. Centers for Disease Control Tobacco Industry Document site, Minnesota select set,
Bates No. 1000774089 - 1000774093
Page Count: 5
URL:
QUOTES
Although the comment...on the cover letter concerning "nicotine the habitual drug found in tobacco" could be argued vis-a-vis to caffeine or theobromine in FREE (or coffee or chocolate) as the use of socially acceptable drugs, there is one important fact which should not be overlooked. Pyrolisis of cocoa beans releases many of the same constituents that are released by the pyrolysis of tobacco including benzene, phenols, acreolin, acetaldehyde, formic acid, acetic acid, tannins, etc.
...The adverse effects of these substances are evident as expressed as caffeinism, allergic dermatitis and salmonella and aflatoxin contamination.
Although the manufacturers of BOGART and FREE claimed a health warning was not necessary, it appears the Federal regulatory agencies are somewhat misguided in allowing this. Based on the literature studied, it could probably be shown that pyrolysis of cocoa bean and tobacco produce a similar profile of chemical constituents. Tests performed on FREE in our own laboratories show tar levels greatly exceeding MARLBORO, while levels of hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and aldehydes exceed MARLBORO and nitrogen oxide levels are similar for the two...
Philip Morris holds several patents involving the use of cocoa beans and shells with or without tobacco formulation to make smoking products....
In conclusion, there is much more than is readily apparent to this product to "health-conscious smokers." It is safe to say that smoking FREE is not like eating a hot fudge sundae!!
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