Blood in Cigarettes

University of Sydney professor Simon Chapman recently highlighted research that found pigs’ blood may be an undisclosed ingredient in cigarettes. Findings were originally reported in a Dutch study on industrial uses of pigs, which included pig haemoglobin in cigarette filters. Determining which companies do and do not use animal products in their cigarettes is difficult, because the tobacco industry is not required to list its ingredients, citing trade secrets. While some cigarette companies give the illusion of transparency by voluntarily listing ingredients on their websites, any products that are “not significantly present in and do not functionally affect the finished product” can be included under the broad term “processing aids.”