THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080468
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Philip Morris Cos. drew high praise for recalling billions of possibly tainted cigarettes and dispatching workers to post reassuring notices on thousands of merchants' doors, windows and walls.
Despite the effort, many smokers in Hampton Roads apparently shrugged off the warning, opting instead to smoke their favorite brand of cigarettes.
The bulk of the suspect cigarettes have been removed from store shelves, company officials said. But smokers with cartons or packs purchased in the past few weeks may want to return them.
The reason is serious. Methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) - a pesticide that Philip Morris said might be in some of its cigarettes - causes coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, dizziness, red eyes and a host of other symptoms.
Philip Morris has received calls from several customers complaining about those symptoms.
``We still haven't determined whether it's related to affected cigarettes,'' spokeswoman Karen Daragan said.
Even so, few smokers interviewed this week really seemed to care.
``It didn't bother me none,'' said Albert Reynolds, 23, an air-conditioning repairman from Suffolk. ``I didn't return anything, and I don't know anyone who did.''
As for the symptoms of MITC, ``I'd probably think I had a cold,'' said Reynolds, a Marlboro Reds smoker on his way to buy cigarettes at a Chesapeake service station.
Philip Morris says it has received hundreds of thousands of calls from consumers and retailers.
But merchants - most of whom pulled Philip Morris cigarettes until they were checked - said their customers' concerns were overshadowed by strong brand loyalty and nicotine cravings.
Many smokers, particularly those puffing on Marlboros, balked at the notion of switching to brands like Winstons or Camels, which weren't affected by the recall, said Pam O'Brien, manager of the Bennett's Creek Farms Market in Suffolk.
``They weren't real happy about switching,'' O'Brien said. ``Most of them walked out the door.''
There were other signs of smoker loyalty - and a few cases of desperation - elsewhere.
When some Food Lion stores began pulling cartons and boxes of cigarettes, customers rushed over to supermarket workers, trying to grab the merchandise, a company spokeswoman said.
At several Hampton Roads convenience stores, some smokers shrugged and said, ``Give them to me anyway.''
At a Citgo service station in Chesapeake, owner Stewart Bremner says he got one or two queries from customers about the recall. But, ``they kept on buying them anyway.''
It has been almost two weeks since Philip Morris announced it would recallbillions of cigarettes - everything from Marlboro to Virginia Slims - because contaminants in a spray used to harden filters might have created toxic MITC. The recall could cost up to $200 million, the company said.
Philip Morris says it has reached almost all the retailers who carry its cigarettes. Most merchants have posted Philip Morris notices apologizing and reassuring consumers that all the company's cigarettes in the stores have been checked.
Few customers have taken advantage of return policies since the announcement, retailers said.
``It has been real spotty,'' said Karen Raskopf, spokeswoman for Southland Corp., which owns the 7-Eleven chain. ``Some customers have brought the product back. But we haven't had an avalanche.''
Most retailers and consumers have nothing but accolades for Philip Morris. But convenience store owner D. Sharma shrugs.
``Why bother?'' said Sharma, owner of the Daily Needs store in Chesapeake. ``Just don't say anything.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color illustration
[Packages of cigarettes]
[Signs posted by Philip Morris]
by CNB