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BackgroundTobacco corporation Philip Morris International launched the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW), a purportedly independent scientific organisation, in 2017. We aimed to systematically investigate FSFW’s activities and outputs, comparing these with previous industry attempts to influence science, as identified in the recently developed typology of corporate influence on science, the Science for Profit Model (SPM).DesignWe prospectively collected data on FSFW over a 4-year period, 2017–2021, and used document analysis to assess whether FSFW’s activities mirror practices tobacco and other industries have historically used to shape science in their own interests. We used the SPM as an analytical framework, working deductively to search for use of the strategies it identifies, and inductively to search for any additional strategies.ResultsMarked similarities between FSFW’s practices and previous corporate attempts to influence science were observed, including: producing tobacco industry-friendly research and opinion; obscuring industry involvement in science; funding third parties which denigrate science and scientists that may threaten industry profitability; and promoting tobacco industry credibility.ConclusionsOur paper identifies FSFW as a new vehicle for agnogenesis, indicating that, over 70 years since the tobacco industry began to manipulate science, efforts to protect science from its interference remain inadequate. This, combined with growing evidence that other industries are engaging in similar practices, illustrates the urgent need to develop more robust systems to protect scientific integrity.

BackgroundIn both Sweden and the USA, smokeless tobacco (ST) is legal and used predominantly by men. Starting in the 1970s, US tobacco companies attempted to expand the ST market to women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexual orientation (LGBTQ+) people.DesignWe analysed industry documents from the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library triangulating findings with recent ST advertising and publicly available literature.FindingsWe found tobacco companies used design innovations such as pouched moist snuff, snus and dissolvable products to expand the market. In addition, diverse advertising campaigns targeted women, people of colour (Hispanic, African American) and LGBTQ+ communities with identity-targeted messages emphasising novelty, convenience, cleanliness and use in smoke-free environments. However, stereotypes of ST users as rural white males endured, perpetuated by continued marketing aimed at this customer base, which created cognitive dissonance and stymied marketer’s hopes that pouch products would ‘democratize’ ST.ConclusionThese failed campaigns suggest novel products such as nicotine pouch products may provide a ‘clean slate’ to similarly target women and other low-ST-using groups. Based on this history, the risk of new tobacco and nicotine products to increase health disparities should be closely monitored.

BackgroundThe global market for flavour capsule variants (FCVs), cigarettes with a crushable flavour capsule, has grown exponentially. To inform further regulatory efforts, it is important to understand tobacco industry strategies for FCVs.MethodsAnalysis of data from 65 patents and 179 internal tobacco industry documents, retrieved via snowball searches in Patsnap and the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library, describing tobacco industry developments related to FCVs. We used an inductive coding method to identify themes relating to FCV features or developments.ResultsTobacco companies were developing FCVs since the 1960s, with little market success until the 2000s following the launch of Camel Crush, a brand which targeted millennials (in their teens or early 20s at the time). Tobacco companies have patented, but not yet marketed, FCVs with microcapsule surface coatings, adjustable or heat-triggered flavour release systems, airflow manipulation features, transparent filters to visualise flavour release, and various flavours and additives for capsules including nicotine/tobacco extracts for an on-demand nicotine hit. Tobacco companies developed FCVs purported to be reduced harm, although their own tests showed that FCVs have higher toxicant concentrations. They have also developed loose flavour capsule units designed to fit into cigarettes, packs, or recessed filters to enable users to customise cigarettes and circumvent tobacco flavour bans.ConclusionsTo prevent tobacco companies from targeting young people and exploiting regulatory loopholes, regulations on tobacco products should ban flavours and consider the broad variety of FCV designs, additives and loose products designed to impart flavour into tobacco products.

BackgroundMozambique has experienced a series of tobacco industry consolidations both in tobacco leaf buying and processing, and in cigarette manufacturing and marketing. The growth of the tobacco industry presence in Mozambique was followed by an increase in tobacco industry’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. This is the first paper to describe the history of tobacco industry activities in Mozambique, a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).MethodsWe reviewed industry documents and associated web-based information. Industry documents (1990–2021) were identified through University of California San Francisco’s Truth Tobacco Industry Documents Library. We followed with a search of web-based sources pertaining to the tobacco industry in Mozambique. We complemented our analysis with select media sources to identify statements by government officials in relation to the tobacco industry. We mapped major tobacco industry players, industry partnerships and corresponding CSR activities.ResultsTobacco production increased substantially in Mozambique in the 1990s when tobacco companies began targeting African countries. The increased attention to tobacco production, trade and sales in Mozambique was coupled with greater industry involvement in CSR activities. We identified 10 tobacco industry CSR programmes in Mozambique. Most of the CSR programmes focus on health including HIV/AIDS, social issues and environmental issues.ConclusionsSimilar to other tobacco-growing countries, the industry facilitated an increase in tobacco production and continues efforts to increase the tobacco consumption market while engaging in CSR activities focused on social and environmental issues. As in other countries, CSR initiatives in Mozambique enhance industry’s reputation. Importantly, these CSR programmes and partnerships breach national laws and the provisions of the FCTC. The continuation of these programmes suggests limited attention within government to protect public policy from industry interference in compliance with Article 5.3 of the FCTC.

ObjectiveThis paper explores transnational tobacco companies’ (TTCs) long-term policy influence strategies using two case studies, harm reduction and illicit tobacco, to identify lessons for the tobacco control movement and wider efforts to address the commercial determinants of health.MethodsEvidence from a broad combination of sources including leaked documents and findings from over two decades of TTC monitoring were reviewed for each case study and categorised using the Policy Dystopia Model, focusing on the primary discursive strategy and key instrumental (action-based) strategies used.ResultsIn both case studies, TTCs seek to advance their interests by engaging primarily in reputation management, coalition management and information management strategies over the long-term to propagate their over-riding discursive strategy—‘we’ve changed, we are part of the solution’—despite clear evidence from both case studies that this is not the case. These strategies are globally coordinated and attempt primarily to reshape norms towards TTC involvement in tobacco control policy and delivery. Findings also suggest that industry denormalisation and the advent of Article 5.3 have led to the TTCs growing use of increasingly complex and opaque ‘webs of influence’.ConclusionsThe tobacco control community must develop its own proactive long-term strategies which should include industry denormalisation, new ways to fund research that reduce industry control, and improved transparency measures for research and policy. These findings, including TTC adaptations to Article 5.3, also indicate the need for more structural solutions, addressing corporate power and the underlying political and economic system. These lessons can be applied to other unhealthy commodity industries.

ObjectiveTo investigate how and why Japan Tobacco, Inc. (JT) in 1986 established the Smoking Research Foundation (SRF), a research-funding institution, and to explore the extent to which SRF has influenced science and health policy in Japan.MethodsWe analysed documents in the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents archive, along with recent Japanese litigation documents and published documents.ResultsJT’s effort to combat effective tobacco control was strengthened in the mid-1980s, following privatisation of the company. While remaining under the protection of Japan’s Ministry of Finance, the semiprivatised company lost its ‘access to politicos’, opening up a perceived need for collaboration with global cigarette makers. One solution, arrived at through clandestine planning with American companies, was to establish a third-party organisation, SRF, with the hope of capturing scientific and medical authority for the industry. Guarded by powerful people in government and academia, SRF was launched with the covert goal of influencing tobacco policy both inside and outside Japan. Scholars funded by SRF have participated in international conferences, national advisory committees and tobacco litigation, in most instances helping the industry to maintain a favourable climate for the continued sale of cigarettes.ConclusionsContrary to industry claims, SRF was never meant to be independent or neutral. With active support from foreign cigarette manufacturers, SRF represents the expansion into Asia of the denialist campaign that began in the USA in 1953.

ObjectiveThe objectives of this scoping review are to examine existing research on the often-secretive contracts between tobacco manufacturers and retailers, to identify contract requirements and incentives, and to assess the impact of contracts on the sales and marketing of tobacco products in the retail setting.Data sourcesThe systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Political Science Database, Business Source Premier, ProQuest Agricultural & Environmental Science Collection, and Global Health through December 2020.Study selectionWe included studies that collected and analysed empirical data related to tobacco contracts, tobacco manufacturers, and tobacco retailers. Two reviewers independently screened all 2786 studies, excluding 2694 titles and abstracts and 65 full texts resulting in 27 (0.97%) included studies.Data extractionStudy characteristics, contract prevalence, contract requirements and incentives, and the influence of contracts on the retail environment were extracted from each study.Data synthesisWe created an evidence table and conducted a narrative review of included studies.ConclusionsContracts are prevalent around the world and handsomely incentivise tobacco retailers in exchange for substantial manufacturer control of tobacco product availability, placement, pricing and promotion in the retail setting. Contracts allow tobacco companies to promote their products and undermine tobacco control efforts in the retail setting through discounted prices, promotions and highly visible placement of marketing materials and products. Policy recommendations include banning tobacco manufacturer contracts and retailer incentives along with more transparent reporting of contract incentives given to retailers.

ObjectivePrevious research has identified that transnational tobacco companies lack transparency and that they hide their harms to health and nature behind environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting. Our objective was to find whether independent tobacco supply chain companies similarly lack transparency on tobacco-related activities while prominently displaying ESG.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, mentions of tobacco supply chain activities and ESG company official documentation and websites were explored for independent tobacco supply chain companies (n=80) with identified annual reports included in the Tobacco Supply Chain Database. Bivariable statistical analysis tested for differences in the visibility of tobacco supply chain contribution and ESG within official documents and websites. In depth exploration was undertaken for seven case study companies.ResultsIndependent tobacco supply chain companies were significantly less likely to mention their tobacco supply chain contribution than ESG (31% and 80%, respectively p<0.001) in annual reporting. Tobacco supply chain contribution was also less prominent than ESG on websites (29% and 79%, respectively, mentioned on the home page or a home page menu p<0.001). The companies were making median annual profits of over US$2 million (n=76), with a large variation of revenue from tobacco activity (5–100%) where it was reported (n=9).ConclusionsIndependent tobacco supply chain companies undertake ESG activities that they prominently display in official reporting and on websites while often being less transparent about their tobacco supply chain contribution. Potential investors and customers may thus be misled about the companies’ true nature. More rigorous reporting requirements are needed.

ObjectiveOver the last 35 years, there has been growing evidence suggesting a relationship between tobacco use and breast cancer. The tobacco industry’s role in shaping research, policy and public opinion about the relationship is unknown. This study’s objective is to determine if the tobacco industry-funded Council for Tobacco Research (CTR) Records and the Tobacco Institute (TI) Records, housed in the Truth Tobacco Industry Document Archive, contain documents related to internal research about breast cancer and strategies to influence the science and public opinion about breast cancer causes.MethodsWe applied the situational scoping method, in which community advocates and university researchers collaborate, to (1) identify external events considered by CTR or TI as a threat or opportunity to business interests; (2) select events for further analysis and (3) conduct social worlds/arenas mapping of industry responses to selected events.ResultsThe CTR and TI Records contained 19 719 documents with the search term ‘breast cancer’ ranging from the 1950s to 1998. We analysed nine events relevant to the aim of this research. CTR and TI responded to external threats, pointing out methodological problems in studies they perceived as threatening, or characterising lung cancer as misdiagnosed or metastasised breast cancer. They responded to external opportunities with promoting and funding research focusing on smoking’s ‘protective effects’ over breast cancer, and breast cancer’s genetic, hormonal and dietary causes.ConclusionThe CTR and TI Records are a rich source of documents related to tobacco industry efforts to influence breast cancer research, policy and public opinion away from any aetiologic relationship between tobacco use and breast cancer.

ObjectiveTo evaluate and start a discussion on the potential usefulness of applying Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven natural language processing technology such as the ChatGPT in tobacco control efforts, specifically vaping cessation.MethodTen real-world questions about vaping cessation were selected from a Reddit forum and used as ChatGPT prompts or queries. Content analysis was performed on the ChatGPT responses to identify the thematic aspects of vaping cessation support represented in the responses. Next, the responses were empirically evaluated by five experts in tobacco control on accuracy, quality, clarity, and empathy.ResultThe following themes related to vaping cessation support were identified: understanding nicotine withdrawal symptoms, self-regulation, peer support, motivational support, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). The experts judged the ChatGPT responses to be 'satisfactory' to 'excellent' in areas of accuracy, quality, clarity, and empathy.ConclusionIf managed by a group of experts, including clinicians, and behavioral and computer scientists, a platform such as the ChatGPT may be leveraged to design tailored interventions for tobacco use cessation, including vaping cessation.