FDA authorizes ZYN nicotine pouches as lower‑risk alternative in US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) orders for 20 variants of ZYN nicotine pouches, allowing the products to be marketed with the claim that using ZYN instead of cigarettes reduces the risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. ZYN pouches contain nicotine but no tobacco and are placed between the gum and lip. Philip Morris International, the owner of ZYN, says the products are intended exclusively for adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking. The FDA said the decision provides science‑based information for adult users. Health‑ advocacy groups dispute the claim, stressing that nicotine remains addictive and harmful, and called for the decision to be reversed. Monitoring data show youth use of nicotine pouches remains low at about 1.7 %.