The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially authorized Zyn nicotine pouches for sale after conducting a “thorough scientific review” of their safety.
In a statement released Thursday, the agency said it found the popular pouches had a lower risk of cancer and other serious health problems compared to cigarettes, as well as compared to other smokeless tobacco products.
The agency also found that the sachets could even potentially benefit cigarette smokers, while there was evidence that they could encourage them to quit smoking.
“The data shows that these nicotine pouches meet this bar by benefiting adults who use cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products and switch completely to these products,” said Matthew Farrelly, director of the Center’s Office of Science. for Tobacco Products from the FDA. in a statement.
Zyn’s use has exploded in recent years following a viral online trend, even causing a shortage last year. Yet the product operated in a legal gray area as it underwent formal review by the FDA regarding its health effects and adoption by younger users.
On the latter point, the FDA found that, so far, Zyn use among young people appears to be relatively low, although it continues to monitor the trend.
A spokesperson for Philip Morris International Inc., which owns U.S. rights to Zyn, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Swedish Match, the developer of Zyn, released the following statement:
“FDA clearance of all ZYN The nicotine pouches currently marketed by Swedish Match in the United States are an important step in protecting public health by providing better alternatives to cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products for adults 21 and older.
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids criticized the FDA’s decision in a separate statement.
“The FDA today set a dangerous precedent that endangers the nation’s children by allowing the sale of 20 pouches of Zyn Nicotine in flavors that clearly appeal to children, including chill, citrus, fresh mint and peppermint. peppery,” he said.
“The FDA’s decision is deeply troubling given the extensive scientific evidence demonstrating that flavored tobacco products appeal to children and the fact that nicotine pouches were the only category of tobacco products whose use increased among young people l t year. The FDA authorizes a flavored tobacco product that is already gaining popularity among children and repeats the mistakes made with Juul that resulted in the e-cigarette epidemic among young people.
In the statement, the FDA emphasized that its findings on Zyn did not mean the products were ultimately safe or “FDA approved.”
“There is no such thing as a safe tobacco product,” the agency said. “Young people should not use tobacco products and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start.”
