FDA lets Zyn market pouches as safer than cigarettes

Link copied by Joseph Choi and Nathaniel Weixel - 07/01/26 7:24 PM ET Link copied NOW PLAYING Close Thank you for signing up! The maker of ZYN nicotine pouches can tell consumers its products are safer to use than cigarettes, the FDA said. The FDA allowed the company to market 10 flavors of Zyn products, which have been authorized for sale in the U.S. since January 2025. These are the first nicotine pouches that are allowed to be marketed with a modified risk claim. It s a significant win for tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) and comes as the Trump administration loosens restrictions on nicotine products. The pouches are produced and marketed by Swedish Match, a Stockholm-based tobacco company owned by PMI. Zyn pouches contain nicotine but not tobacco. They have surged in popularity among conservatives, especially those in the orbit of President Trump s White House. Nicotine is the substance in cigarettes that makes them so addictive. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson helped popularize the brand among conservatives before later turning against it and launching his own nicotine pouch brand, Alp. Zyn gained marketing authorization in 2025 when FDA officials said the products can help adult smokers cut back or switch completely. They are not FDA approved, and the agency has said there is no safe tobacco product. Health groups have said they worry about Zyn s appeal to young people. The action applies to flavors including Zyn Chill, Cinnamon, Citrus, Coffee, Cool Mint, Menthol, Peppermint, Smooth, Spearmint and Wintergreen, each in 3-milligram and 6-milligram nicotine strengths. Welcome to The Hill s Healthcare newsletter, we re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. How policy will be impacting the healthcare sector this week and beyond: Trump moves to freeze funding to New York s Medicaid fraud unit The Trump administration said it is freezing millions of dollars in federal funding for New York s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the state division that investigates and prosecutes healthcare provider fraud and patient abuse or neglect in Medicaid-funded facilities. In a letter sent Tuesday to state officials, Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell said the state MFCU failed to secure … Boebert: Kean explanation for absence embarrassing Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) on Monday criticized fellow GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (N.J.) for his four-month absence from Congress after the New Jersey lawmaker returned to the Capitol. I think it s embarrassing, Boebert told TMZ on Capitol Hill. Earlier in the day, Kean returned to the House floor for the first time since early March — after missing more than 100 votes. In explaining the reason for his disappearance, the Garden … Women more often hired after losing weight on GLP-1s: Study (NewsNation) — A recent study shows women who are on GLP-1s weren t just losing weight but also increasing their chances of getting hired at a new job. Rebecca Diamond, an economics professor at Harvard University, told Business Insider she conducted the study after talking to a friend who made a comment about being treated better after losing weight from using GLP-1 drugs. The research paper showed that the employment … Parasitic illness cases are spiking: The symptoms to watch for, including explosive diarrhea (NEXSTAR) — Dozens of cases of a parasite-based sickness have prompted investigations across the U.S. as health officials work to determine the source. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday said that between May and mid-June, it had been notified of 145 cases of cyclosporiasis. Cases of cyclosporiasis rise between May 1 and the end of August annually, but some areas are seeing even more cases than … Local and state headlines on healthcare: Health news we ve flagged from other outlets: Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

FDA lets Zyn market pouches as safer than cigarettes

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