American Lung Association: FDA’s Authorization of Flavored Zyn is a Gift to Big Tobacco

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized ZYN flavored nicotine pouches. Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, issued the following statement in response to the announcement: 

"FDA’s granting of these marketing order to 20 flavored products is a gift to the tobacco industry. The American Lung Association sees FDA’s authorization Zyn Citrus, Zyn Cool Mint, Zyn Chill and other kid-appealing flavors is a green light to the industry to further lean in with their youth-focused marketing. 

“We are extremely disappointed that the FDA authorized these Zyn nicotine pouches – especially since the product has been on the market illegally up until now. While it has not been sold in the U.S. for long, we are already seeing very concerning levels of youth use, and troubling use of influencers and celebrities to promote the product, exactly like Juul was promoted previously. One study found there has been a 641% increase in sales of the products between 2019 and 2022, but just 2.9% of U.S. adults had ever used a nicotine pouch. This shows an alarming rate of people younger than 21 using this product.

“Let’s be clear: Zyn is a tobacco product, and no tobacco product is safe. A 2022 study of 44 nicotine pouch products found that 26 of the samples contained cancer-causing chemicals and several other chemicals such as: ammonia, chromium, formaldehyde, nickel, pH adjusters and nicotine salt. Most concerning, nicotine pouches contain high levels of nicotine, which is incredibly addictive and harmful to young people in any form.  Using Zyn at the same time as other tobacco products or dual use is also a serious concern and could cause additional harm to kids and adults.

“By now, it should be clear to all that new products from the tobacco industry with alluring flavoring and excessive marketing directly leads to youth use. FDA’s monitoring of these products must far exceed any other post market surveillance they have done so far. They must be prepared to swiftly remove these products and cannot allow another tobacco epidemic to occur like what happened with Juul less than a decade ago. It is now up to state and local governments to act to end the sale of flavored tobacco products if we are to end the tobacco use epidemic, once and for all.”

Learn more about nicotine pouches here.