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What is Zyn? Explaining the nicotine pouches following Baker Mayfield ‘MNF’ controversy

Updated: 25-10-2024, 07.15 PM

A video captured of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield allegedly using Zyn, a brand of nicotine pouches, during ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” is causing controversy.

“That Bucs game was so stressful, Baker Mayfield had to pop a Zyn,” one X user posted on Tuesday.

Although the Swedish product was introduced in 2014, nicotine pouches have more recently gained popularity, particularly among the youth. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, nicotine pouches were the second-most popular form of tobacco children admitted to using. And medical experts say the highly addictive products can have negative health impacts, especially on young people.

The owners of Zyn, tobacco company Swedish Match, released a statement to TMZ saying, “Swedish Match appreciates its loyal consumers and encourages them not to show the product in any situation where someone under 21 years old could see it.”

USA TODAY contacted Swedish Match on Friday but has not received a response.

It is unclear if Mayfield, who is 29, knew he was being shown allegedly using Zyn, but that did not stop social media users from discussing the clip. Some users even brought up how this incident could lead to Mayfield being suspended due to ESPN noting years ago that, “The NFL does have two rules when it comes to players using smokeless tobacco — don’t do it on the playing field or while conducting television interviews.”

On the heels of the Mayfield incident, here is what to know about Zyn and its owners, Swedish Match.

What is Zyn?

Introduced in 2014 by Swedish Match, Zyn is described as nicotine pouches that are “smoke-free, spit-free and come in a wide variety of flavors and strengths, for a fresh experience you can enjoy anywhere, anytime,” according to the product’s website.

When anyone visiting Zyn’s website will be met with a disclaimer explaining how the company takes “the issue of underage usage extremely seriously” and requires new visitors to go through a “strict age verification process.”

“Not intended for use by minors, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or persons with or at risk of heart disease or high blood pressure,” the company’s disclaimer reads. “If you have a serious health condition, please consult a healthcare professional before use. Keep out of reach of children. Use as directed.”

In addition to Zyn’s disclaimer, a warning at the top of the webpage reads, “This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”

Zyn contains white powdered nicotine, according to the National Library of Medicine. Other ingredients in Zyn include food-grade additives, fillers, a stabilizer (hydroxypropyl cellulose), pH adjusters, noncaloric sweeteners, and flavorings, the national library in Bethesda, Maryland said.

Who is Swedish Match?

Swedish Match is a multinational tobacco company headquartered in Stockholm.

“Swedish Match develops, manufactures, and sells quality products with market leading brands,” according to the company’s website. “The Company’s product segments are Smokefree, Cigars and Lights. The Company’s largest markets are the U.S. and Scandinavia. Swedish Match is a subsidiary of Philip Morris International.”

The company has operations in Sweden, Denmark, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, Brazil, the Netherlands and the Philippines, Swedish Match’s annual 2021 report says. The company can also be traced back to the early 1900s and Swedish civil engineer Ivar Kreuger, also known as the “Swedish Match King,” according to Harvard Business School.

Between 1913 and 1932, Kreuger “built a small, family-owned match business into a $600 million global match empire,” the business school said.

“Despite the economic and political disruptions of the interwar period, Swedish Match owned manufacturing operations in 36 countries, had monopolies in 16 countries, and controlled 40% of the world’s match production,” according to the business school. “Kreuger companies lent over $300 million dollars to governments in Europe, Latin America, and Asia in exchange for national match monopolies.”

Youth smoking less: One product is on the rise.

‘It’s a pouch packed with problems’

In January, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer called for federal agencies to crack down on Zyn due to nicotine pouches potentially posing a danger to teenagers who decide to use them as an alternative to e-cigarettes.

“It’s a pouch packed with problems – high levels of nicotine,” Schumer said during a news conference. “So today, I’m delivering a warning to parents, because these nicotine pouches seem to lock their sights on young kids – teenagers, and even lower – and then use the social media to hook ’em.”

Schumer urged the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate Zyn’s marketing and health effects.

In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City.In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City.

In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City.

Is Zyn safe?

Zyn, which is sold for around $6 in 3 mg and 6 mg doses, “delivers nicotine directly into the bloodstream through the mouth’s membrane lining, rather than through the lungs,” according to John Hopkins University.

“In many ways, the pouches are safer than other nicotine products on the market because they do not use tobacco leaves and therefore have fewer carcinogens,” the research university in Baltimore, Maryland said.

Despite being “safer,” Zyn is not risk-free as it can be “addictive and cause cardiovascular issues, gum damage, and nausea,” according to John Hopkins. Experts have also expressed concern about how easy Zyn is to conceal and the variety of flavors offered — including peppermint, coffee, and citrus — that make them appealing to kids, the university said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Baker Mayfield accused of using nicotine pouches: What is Zyn?

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