Kent, the asbestos-filtered cigarette
In 1952, in response to growing concerns about the safety of cigarettes, the Lorillard Tobacco Company introduced Kent cigarettes, boasting that they contained a "Micronite filter" developed by "researchers in atomic energy plants".
Turned out that the key ingredient in the Micronite filter was asbestos. From wikipedia:
According to Mother Jones, the company is still battling lawsuits to this day.
Turned out that the key ingredient in the Micronite filter was asbestos. From wikipedia:
Kent widely touted its "famous micronite filter" and promised consumers the "greatest health protection in history". Sales of Kent skyrocketed, and it has been estimated that in Kent's first four years on the market, Lorillard sold some 13 billion Kent cigarettes. From March 1952 until at least May 1956, however, the Micronite filter in Kent cigarettes contained compressed carcinogenic blue asbestos within the crimped crepe paper. It has been suspected that many cases of mesothelioma have been caused specifically by smoking the original Kent cigarettes.
According to Mother Jones, the company is still battling lawsuits to this day.
Chicago Tribune - Apr 1, 1952
Comments
As the son of a smoker... yeah, I have nothing funny on this. American litigious culture - have a field day.
Posted by Richard Bos on 12/19/20 at 02:35 PM
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Category: Health | Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters | Smoking and Tobacco | 1950s