A case and pouch of Zyn nicotine sit on a table in New York City on January 29, 2024.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially cleared Zyn nicotine pouches for sale after conducting an “extensive scientific review” of their safety.
The agency said in a release Thursday that the popular pouches were found to have a lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions compared to cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco products.
The agency also found that there is evidence that pouches can encourage smokers to quit, and may even provide benefits to smokers.
“Data shows that these nicotine pouch products benefit and meet the criteria for adults who use cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products and switch to these products completely,” FDA Center. said Dr. Matthew Farrelly, Director of the Office of Science. said in a statement.
Use of Zyn has exploded in recent years following viral online meme trends, and it even caused a shortage last year. But the product operated in a legal gray area while it underwent official review by the FDA for health effects and consumption among young users.
Regarding the latter point, the FDA has found that use of Zyn by minors thus far appears to be relatively low, although it continues to monitor trends.
A spokesperson for Philip Morris International, which owns the rights to Zyn in the United States, did not respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, the FDA emphasized that the findings regarding Zyn do not mean the product is ultimately safe or that it is “FDA-approved.”
“There are no safe tobacco products,” the agency said. “Adolescents should not use tobacco products, and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start smoking.”