By Zyn, a tiny Philip Morris product that has been in the news quite commonly which lead people to discuss whether or not underage teens and adults are adopting new adult-oriented nicotine-based alternatives. In recent years, nicotine pouches of Zyn particularly have grown a lot of popularity. Though they have been available for purchase in the US for almost a decade, fans spread on internet has recently caused demand to rise. This blogpost provides you with detailed information about the Zyn, Zyn lawsuit and how it impacts the youngsters.
What is Zyn?
Zyn is an oral pouch that has flavors including citrus, coffee and mint along with the nicotine powder. Zyn is packaged in puck-shaped icebreaker-like containers. About ten flavors, from coffee to cinnamon, are available in each container that holds 15 pouches. Each flavor is packaged in a bright-colored package.
Nicotine powder which is present in the pouches dissolves in the mouth and then enters the bloodstream. People call it “packing a lip,” which is simply placing the pouch between the upper lip and the user’s gum. The tobacco industry, which was struggling for decades to replace falling cigarette sales, has reached its fastest-growing segment in the form of pouches.
Zyn is marketed by Philip Morris International to adult consumers of tobacco. US regulators, however, label it as a tobacco product even though it doesn’t contain tobacco. Representatives for Philip Morris claim that only nicotine formulation is a part of Zyn’s appeal.
Zyn Lawsuit
With the Zyn lawsuit, regarding the sale of flavored Zyns and other smokeless tobacco pouches that users place in between their lips and gums for a nicotine dosage. The city attorney’s office filed Zyn lawsuit against an array of internet retailers, claiming that they have broken both local and state laws intended to keep youth from becoming addicted to tobacco products. You are still able to purchase unflavored nicotine pouches online; they are still offered at head shops and corner stores across the city.
The Zyn lawsuit additionally cites a November 2023 analysis by UC San Diego researchers that indicates the efforts made by California and local jurisdictions to forbid the selling of flavored tobacco products at physical stores have resulted in a rise in the online product sales.
Requests for comment from the companies included in the zyn lawsuit were not returned. The lawsuit against flavored tobacco has historically been led by San Francisco. The city was the first in the nation to outlaw regular menthol cigarettes and all flavored tobacco products, including the once-popular Juul vape, from retail shelves in 2019.
According to the California Youth Tobacco Survey, in 2018 11% of high school students in San Francisco admitted to consuming vapes regularly. San Francisco Unified was among thousands of cities, counties, and other school districts which filed Zyn lawsuits against tobacco firms in 2019 for selling and advertising e-cigarettes to minors. Many of these complaints resulted in a class-action lawsuit which led to a $1.2 billion settlement nationwide.
Youth vaping in the city decreased after the Zyn lawsuit and citywide ban. According to the survey, at 2022 less than 6% of high school students reported frequently
Is Zyn a less harmful product than others?
All tobacco products have significant health hazards. It is often known that cigarettes are the most dangerous, raising the risk of lung problems, heart disease, and cancer. Gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancer are associated with tobacco chewing.
However, in the last decade scientists and health authorities have started to recognize that various tobacco products have different levels of harm. In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration stated that smokers who switch to snus may experience benefits because it has lower carcinogens than cigarettes.
Snus is similar to Zyn nicotine pouches except that they contain fermented tobacco. Studies conducted in Sweden and other popular places have revealed that lower incidences of lung cancer and related disorders are more when compared with other European countries on higher rates of smoking.
The long-term effects of nicotine pouches are not well studied, but many researchers anticipate that the levels of carcinogens and other harmful substances will be similarly low. However, that does not mean that they are safe. According to a study conducted last year, Zyn and similar products have low concentrations of harmful substances like formaldehyde and ammonia.
Impact of Zyn on young people
In the survey which was conducted last year, 1.5% of middle and high school students were using nicotine pouches. That is significantly lower than the 10% of smokers who use e-cigarettes.
However, videos of young people popping the pouches have received millions of views on social media in recent months, which anti-tobacco advocates point to as worrying indications. A similar surge in online activity preceded the rise of Juul, the sleek e-cigarette that is commonly held responsible for triggering a spike in teen vaping prior to COVID-19.
Debate among the parents, lawmakers, and even health professionals are having concern about Zyn going viral. The FDA claims to be keeping an eye on the use of Zyn and other pouches by minors and to take appropriate action if needed.
Current Status Of Zyn Lawsuit
Philip Morris is currently concentrating on getting FDA approval to continue marketing the product, but it has hinted that it may eventually apply for a reduced-risk designation similar to snus. However, no tobacco company, not even Philip Morris has ever requested FDA approval for any of its products designed to help smokers in quitting entirely.
Conclusion
The FDA’s ongoing efforts to combat the marketing and sale of unauthorized and possibly appealing tobacco products to youth are reflected in the measures taken today and throughout the supply chain. The FDA has so far issued over 550 warning letters and over 100 civil money penalty complaints against companies which are selling tobacco products without authorization. Through investigations, inspections, and surveillance, the agency is still actively keeping an eye on the market and enforcing the law.