5/16/2023 0 Comments Marlboro cigaretteWe have analyzed internal documents of the tobacco industry to show that Philip Morris discovered ammonia’s freebasing ability while attempting to understand the impact of the ammoniated tobacco sheet used in its Marlboro cigarettes. The industry reminds us that ammonia is naturally found in foods, fertilizers, and the very air we breathe. The company recalls only the many innocuous uses of ammonia-as a “flavorant” or binder required for the manufacture of recon, for example. Yet to this day, Philip Morris denies it has ever deliberately freebased tobacco to boost nicotine yields. This freebased version of Marlboro cigarettes was one of the greatest triumphs in the history of modern drug design and one reason the brand became the world’s most popular cigarette. The discovery seems to have come about by accident, in the course of exploring the properties of the ammoniated tobaccos used in the preparation of reconstituted tobacco sheet (“recon”). 2 The tobacco industry has for many years used ammonia as a relatively innocuous additive to augment certain flavors, to economize on costs by expanding or “puffing” the cured leaf, to denicotinize (reduce the amount of nicotine in) tobacco, and even to reduce some of the carcinogens in tobacco smoke.īy the early 1960s, however, Philip Morris scientists had discovered that ammonia could also be used to increase the free nicotine in cigarette smoke, providing a more powerful nicotine kick than the milder low-pH tobaccos traditionally used in American-blend cigarettes. Although toxic in large doses, ammonia is relatively easy to remove from processed tobacco leaves the gaseous form is quite volatile, and the salt is easily neutralized by the addition of an acid. 1 The compound is also commonly used as a tobacco additive, either in its native form as a clear, pungent gas (NH 3, an ingredient in smelling salts) or as an aqueous or solid ammonium salt (NH 4 +). We also show how Marlboro’s commercial success catalyzed efforts by the rest of the tobacco industry to discover its “secret,” eventually identified as ammonia technology, and how Philip Morris later exploited the myriad uses of ammonia (e.g., for flavoring and expanding tobacco volume) to defend itself against charges of manipulating the nicotine deliveries of its cigarettes.ĪMMONIA OCCURS NATURALLY in cured tobacco leaf, from close to 0% in some varieties up to about 1% (by weight) in the leaves used in some higher-quality cigars. We show that Philip Morris discovered the virtues of freebasing while analyzing the impact of the ammoniated recon used in Marlboro cigarettes. It may not be reproduced in any way whatsoever without Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Limited prior consent, nor without due acknowledgement.Philip Morris and other tobacco companies have been using ammonia in their manufacturing for more than half a century, and for a variety of purposes: to highlight certain flavors, to expand or “puff up” the volume of tobacco, to prepare reconstituted tobacco sheet (“recon”), to denicotinize (reduce the amount of nicotine in) tobacco, and to remove carcinogens.īy the early 1960s, however, Philip Morris had also begun using ammonia to “freebase” the nicotine in cigarette smoke, creating low-yield (reduced-tar or -nicotine) cigarettes that still had the nicotine kick necessary to keep customers “satisfied” (i.e., addicted). This data is supplied for personal use only. You should also note that the picture images show only our serving suggestions of how to prepare your food - all table accessories and additional items and/or ingredients pictured with the product you are purchasing are not included. Where this description contains a link to another party's website for further information about the product, please note that Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Limited has no control over and no liability for the contents of a 3rd party website. You should note that products and their ingredients are subject to change, so it is important you check the labels of products supplied in each delivery. While we have taken care in preparing this summary and believe it to be accurate, it is not a substitute for your reading of the product packaging and label prior to use. This page serves as a summary for information purposes only, and is designed to enhance your shopping experience on the website.
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