The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the sale of Zyn nicotine pouches after conducting a “comprehensive scientific review” of their safety.
In one release On Thursday, the agency said it found the favored pouches pose a lower risk of cancer and other serious health problems in comparison with cigarettes and likewise in comparison with other smokeless tobacco products.
The agency also noted that the pouches even have the potential to assist cigarette smokers, as they’ve been shown to assist people quit smoking.
“The data shows that these nicotine pouch products meet this bar by benefiting adults who use cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products and switch completely to these products,” said Matthew Farrelly, Ph.D., director of the Center's Office of Science the FDA for tobacco products, it said in a press release.
Zyn usage has even exploded lately amid a viral online meme trend which led to a shortage last 12 months. However, until then the product was in a legal gray area has undergone official FDA review for its health effects And Acceptance amongst young users.
On this last point, the FDA noted that Zyn use amongst minors seemed to be relatively low so far, even though it continued to watch the trend.
A spokesman for Philip Morris International Inc., which owns the U.S. rights to Zyn, didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
In the press release, the FDA emphasized that its findings on Zyn don’t mean that the products are ultimately secure or “FDA-approved.”
“There is no safe tobacco product,” the agency said. “Teenagers should not use tobacco products and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start.”
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