FDA Approves Zyn Nicotine Pouches as a Smoking Cessation Tool

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted authorization for Zyn nicotine pouches to be sold as an aid to help people quit smoking. This decision permits the sale of 10 different Zyn flavors, including mint, coffee, cinnamon, and menthol.

Produced by tobacco giant Phillip Morris, Zyn pouches have been available to US adults for over a decade, pending FDA’s formal approval. Unlike other oral nicotine products, these pouches do not contain actual tobacco and have seen a surge in popularity recently. Used by placing them between the gum and lips, Zyn pouches gradually release nicotine, similar to traditional cessation methods like nicotine patches or gum.

These pouches share similarities with snus, a smokeless tobacco product predominantly used in Norway and Sweden. While snus contains tobacco and is banned in the UK and most of the EU, it is legal in the US.

The FDA emphasizes that while Zyn is less harmful than traditional tobacco products, it does not mean the pouches are entirely safe. The decision was based on data showing a significant number of adults transitioning from cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to nicotine pouches.

Unlike e-cigarettes, which saw a dramatic rise in use among youth, nicotine pouches have not shown the same trend. According to the FDA, less than 2% of American students reported using these pouches last year.

The FDA clarified that while Zyn products are now legally marketable in the US, they are not deemed entirely safe or FDA-approved.