Phillip Morris International (PMI) has accused the Department of Health of “spreading misinformation” about heated tobacco products in a social media post, reports The Grocer.

The post in question states that: “All forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no evidence that heated tobacco products are effective for helping people to quit smoking” and is accompanied by an image saying it is a “myth” that heated tobacco is both a safe and an effective tool to quit smoking.
PMI reacted to the post by saying it contained “false and misleading statements” and could dissuade smokers from making the switch to alternatives, reports The Grocer.
“What hope do adult smokers have when seeking out accurate information on smoke-free products, if it’s the government that’s spreading misinformation?” said Moira Gilchrist, chief communications officer of PMI.
The post by the Department of Health although cites a 2017 report by the Committee on Toxicity, which reads: “Laboratory studies show clear evidence of toxicity from heated tobacco products. Unlike vapes, there is no evidence they are effective for helping people to quit smoking.”
Gilchrist says that although heated tobacco products are not risk-free such statements “distort the scientific evidence base” which “seriously misleads the public”.