Nicotine-pouch giant Zyn halts online sales in the face of controversy
Phillip Morris says Zyn sold online makes up only a small percentage of their products nationwide
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tobacco company Philip Morris International is suspending online sales on Zyn.com after finding their affiliate may have illegally sold products in the nation’s capital.
Swedish Match North America, an affiliate of the tobacco giant who owns the nicotine pouch brand Zyn, faces a subpoena in Washington, DC. The district’s Attorney General has zero’ed on Zyn sales and if they comply with a 2022 ban on flavored tobacco and flavored synthetic nicotine.
Zyn pouches are small, nicotine-filled pouches that a user places between their gums and their upper lip. The products do not contain tobacco, the company says. Zyn pouches also differ from snus — another oral nicotine product — because they contain nicotine powder, rather than shredded tobacco leaf.
Zyn.com is halting sales after Phillip Morris’ preliminary investigation revealed the flavored nicotine pouches may have been sold in Washington, DC, mostly from online sales and independent sellers, according to a statement. As the company reviews its “sales and supply chain arrangements,” it will no longer be selling products online as an “initial remedial measure.”
“In the event of an unfavorable outcome related to this matter, a material liability is reasonably possible though not estimable at this time,” the company said in a statement.
The pause on online sales does not mean Zyn products are going away — sales on the Zyn website have made up a small percentage of “nationwide Zyn volumes” since Phillip Morris bought the company, according to their statement.
Zyn products have been a point of controversy for months.
In January, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for regulators to investigate the nicotine pouches, citing their appeal to teenagers. The Food and Drug Administration says it is watching underage use of nicotine products.
Roughly 1.5 percent of high school and middle schoolers reported using nicotine last year, the FDA said, much lower than the 10 percent of students who reported using e-cigarettes.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments