ANR UPDATE 22(4), Winter 2003
Many smokefree air supporters are surprised to learn that the same Philip Morris (renamed Altria) that has spent millions of dollars undermining effective public health policy is also the owner of Kraft, the largest packaged food company in the world. Even more shocking is how this Big Tobacco company has used its subsidiary food and beverage divisions to protect its tobacco profits and to undermine smokefree air policies. Once-secret tobacco industry documents, now available thanks to various lawsuits and the Master Settlement Agreement, indicate that Kraft serves as part of this tobacco giant’s strategy to maintain the social acceptability of smoking in ways that harm other people.
Altria appears to use Kraft in several key ways:
- As a public relations cover for a new corporate image. The commercials say “We’ve Changed,” but the addiction, disease, and death are still the same. This attempt to create a softer corporate image seems mostly intended to influence future jury pools and policymakers.
- As a vehicle for lobbying and campaign contributions as well as for making community grants that can neutralize potential supporters of local tobacco control efforts, e.g., faith groups, women’s shelters, soup kitchens, schools, youth groups, etc. It can be easier for a politician or community-based organization to accept a check from Kraft or one of its subsidiary brands than from Philip Morris.
- As a means of protecting Altria’s stock price from fluctuation that can come with smoking-related lawsuits and reduced consumption of cigarettes.
- As a means to build relationships with the National Restaurant Association, grocers, and other trade groups in promoting ventilation and other ineffective alternatives to smokefree air policy.
Here are just a few items brought to you by Altria. Why would you buy your family food from a tobacco company?
All Kraft and Nabisco products
Altoids
Kool-Aid
Cool Whip
Jell-O
Shake ‘n Bake
Oscar Mayer
Maxwell House coffee
Post cereals
Oreos
Chips Ahoy!
Ritz crackers
Planters nuts
Macaroni & Cheese
Minute Rice
Stove Top stuffing
Toblerone chocolate
Lifesavers
CremeSavers
Philadelphia cream cheese
Miracle Whip
A-1 sauce
and...Milk-Bone dog biscuits.
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