Eight Billion Cigarettes Recalled -- Some Filters Are Contaminated

NEW YORK - In the tobacco industry's largest recall ever, Philip Morris USA yesterday recalled up to 8 billion possibly tainted cigarettes, including some versions of top-selling Marlboro, because some filters are contaminated.

The nation's biggest tobacco company said "a small percentage" of filters was contaminated and said it doubted any were sold to the public, but could not be sure.

The contamination could cause smokers "temporary discomfort," such as eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, coughing and wheezing, or might just leave a bad taste in the mouth, the company said.

The recall affected 36 package styles, including the Marlboro red box, Marlboro soft pack and gold box and gold soft packs of Marlboro 100s, Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Lights 100s. It also included various packs of Virginia Slims, Benson & Hedges, Merit, Cambridge and Basic.

Philip Morris advised consumers to return the affected packages to retailers for a refund. Company representatives were to visit retailers to collect the packages that may be contaminated and provide a certificate and poster saying the remaining Philip Morris products on the premises meet company quality standards.

Spokesman David Laufer said Philip Morris sells cigarettes in 238 packing styles and he couldn't say what portion of total production is sold in the 36 packages in the recall. He also would not say how many cigarettes the recall could involve.

He said the recall could cost about $200 million and the company has reserves to cover the expense. Philip Morris generated more than $11.1 billion in revenue from domestic tobacco sales last year and accounted for nearly 45 percent of all domestic cigarette sales.

In trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Philip Morris fell $2 a share to $69.87 1/2.

James Morgan, president and chief executive of Philip Morris USA, described the recall as "pre-emptive and precautionary" because it's possible that none of the tainted cigarettes reached retailers.

Philip Morris said the contamination occurred at a company from which it buys plasticizer, a material used to strengthen the cigarette filter. It triggered a reaction that formed methyl isothiocyanate, or MITC, in the filter.

Cigarettes made with the defective filters may have an odor, the company said. It said the odor was discovered in raw materials on May 19. The cigarettes that could be affected were identified and held. More testing showed that other filters with no odor were also contaminated.

--------------------------------------------------------. Philip Morris USA's list of 36 package styles recalled:

Alpine Lights 100's Soft Pack.

Basic 100's; Basic 100's Menthol; Basic Lights 100's; Basic Lights King Size; Basic Ultra Lights King Size.

Benson & Hedges 100's Soft Pack; Benson & Hedges 100's Menthol Box; Benson & Hedges Lights 100's Soft Pack.

Best Buy King Size Full Flavor.

Bristol Lights 100's.

Bronson King Size Full Flavor

Cambridge Lights 100's; Cambridge Ultra Lights 100's.

Marlboro Red Box; Marlboro Red Soft Pack; Marlboro 100's Gold Box; Marlboro 100's Gold Soft Pack; Marlboro Lights Gold Box; Marlboro Lights Gold Soft Pack; Marlboro Lights 100's Gold Box; Marlboro Lights 100's Gold Soft Pack; Marlboro Menthol Soft Pack; Marlboro Lights Menthol Box; Marlboro Lights Menthol 100's Box.

Merit 100's Soft Pack; Merit Ultra Lights King Size Soft Pack.

Premium Buy Lights 100's; Premium Buy Lights King Size Menthol.

Shield King Size Full Flavor.

Virginia Slims 100's; Virginia Slims 100's Lights Menthol; Virginia Slims Lights 120's; Virginia Slims Ultra Lights 100's; Virginia Slims Ultra Lights Menthol 100's; Virginia Slims Super Slims.