You're reading: Euronews: Tobacco giants fume over claims they exploited COVID-19 with Romania, Greece & Ukraine donations

Euronews: Tobacco giants fume over claims they exploited COVID-19 with Romania, Greece & Ukraine donations

By Euronews.

Published June 8, 2020 at 3:42 pm

A picture taken on August 21, 2018 in Neuchatel, at the research and development campus of cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company Philip Morris International shows a tobacco sticks for the iQOS electronic cigarette, which heats tobacco but does not burn them. - Philip Morris aims to stop making cigarettes and replace them with a product claimed by the tobacco giant to be less harmful, but early 2018 a US committee recommended that the FDA reject a bid by Philip Morris International to market a smokeless tobacco stick in the United States as safer than traditional cigarettes. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Photo by AFP

Two tobacco titans have hit back at allegations they are using the COVID-19 health crisis to improve their public image and win access to politicians.

Philip Morris International subsidiary, Papastratos, gave 50 respirators to Greek hospitals to help them cope during the pandemic.