The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the marketing of 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway. This decision comes after an extensive scientific review, marking the first time the FDA has granted marketing authorization to nicotine pouches, which are small synthetic fiber pouches containing nicotine designed for oral use.

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Virginia (UVA) has revealed that American soldiers are 10 times more likely to use addictive synthetic nicotine pouches, such as the popular brand Zyns, compared to the average civilian. The survey, conducted at Fort Liberty, the largest military base in the U.S., found that 23.8% of personnel had used a nicotine pouch at least once in the past 10 days, while only 2.9% of American adults reported using a pouch during the same time period in a 2022 study.

As the use of vaping devices among young people began to decline, eliciting a collective sigh of relief from public health officials, a new, potentially worrisome product has gained popularity among youth: nicotine pouches. Unlike cigarettes and vaping devices, which produce smoke and vapor, nicotine pouches are more discreet and harder for parents to notice. Users tuck these pouches between their lip or cheek and gums, allowing the nicotine to be absorbed into their bloodstream through mucous membranes in their mouth.